On Wednesday (6), Switzerland’s Federal Council announced the repeal of a 71-year-old law banning circuit racing, allowing motorsport events to be held on closed tracks starting July 1 this year. The prohibition stemmed from the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans, the deadliest accident in motorsport history, when a chain-reaction crash killed 84 people, including driver Pierre Levegh and 83 spectators. While many countries quickly reversed their post-tragedy bans, Switzerland maintained the restriction for decades. The country had taken small steps toward lifting it in recent years, including hosting Formula E races in Bern and Zurich in 2018 and 2019 through special exemptions. The repeal had been under discussion since 2023.
Before the ban, Switzerland hosted five Formula 1 races at the Bremgarten circuit between 1950 and 1954. Even after the prohibition, the nation remained relevant in motorsport, producing drivers like Sebastien Buemi, Jo Siffert, and Clay Regazzoni. The Sauber team competed in F1 for four decades under Swiss colors before being sold to Audi, though its Hinwil base remains.
Despite the legal change, a return to Formula 1 is unlikely in the near future. Simone Gianini, president of the Automobile Club of Switzerland, stated, “We should not expect