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Eric Boullier named managing director of French GP

Published on 27 Jan 2020 20:40
6
By: Fergal Walsh

Ex-Lotus and McLaren senior employee Eric Boullier has been named as the managing director of the French Grand Prix.

Boullier joined the event as an ambassador for the 2019 event, while also holding the role of sport and operational strategic advisor.

Ahead of the 2020 event, which will be the third French GP in the turbo-hybrid era, the 46-year-old has been named in a new role.

"I am happy and proud to be more involved in this beautiful project that is the Formula 1 Grand Prix de France," he said.

"I look forward to continuing to contribute to the success of this great motor sport event on French soil. I would like to thank Christian Estrosi [French GP President] and the GIP Grand Prix de France – Le Castellet for their trust.”

Boullier last held a position with an F1 team in 2018, as he worked as McLaren's racing director for over four years during its difficult period with Honda and its maiden year with Renault.

Prior to that, he worked with the Renault/Lotus team, acting as its team principal until he departed to McLaren.

President of the GIP Grand Prix de France is Christian Estrosi added: “Since 2019, the French Grand Prix team has already benefited greatly from Eric Boullier’s advice and expertise.

"Eric had already participated in the working group for the return of the Formula 1 French Grand Prix and I am delighted that he is now getting more involved in its organisation."

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Replies (6)

f1ski

Posts: 726
a man who has failed at every f1 position.
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- Jan 28 2020 - 00:28
- Ram Samartha
  
  Posts: 1,172
  Don't know what sport you have been watching but that comment seems very unfair and completely biased. When he was at the helm Renault and Lotus both finished a very respectable 5th, which is quite good for a mid-field team. He made a bad choice to to go to McLaren when he did, in basically a no win situation where it seems like was rail-roaded by Alonoso's crap attitude. Check the facts before you make blanket statements about a guy who clearly knows what he's doing and is widely respected in the paddock. He wasn't really at fault for what happened at McLaren. If you were paying attention it was only after Alonso left that they started to improve to their current form, while he was the one who fell on the sword. Sorry but your comment sounds like it's coming from a young punk who has only been following the sport for a few years, not decades.
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  Jan 28 2020 - 05:42
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
McLaren was clearly a situation he was uncapable of handling. I do however think very few people would've handled it in a good way. So it should speak all the more good of Brown than ill of Boullier that Brown handled it so well.
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- Jan 28 2020 - 05:54
- ajpennypacker
  
  Posts: 2,475
  He was great at Lotus, that's why McLaren picked him up. However, I thought he was one of the main problems at McLaren. I see the typical blaming game saying it was Alonso. But it was Boullier that made the hires. It was Boullier that consistently over promised. It was Boullier that was responsible for the success of the Honda partnership. One failed year is understandable. But not two or three.
  
  That being said, I'm sure hell be a fine manager for the French GP
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  Jan 28 2020 - 07:29
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  You can be both a good and bad principal at once, it all depends on how good you are at different scenarios. I'd venture saying Lotus was a situation he could handle (albeit not optimally, remember how they snuffed Kimi of a whole lot of money, and also struggled financially?), and he did decent work while Dennis was around, but he just couldn't keep it up. I just don't think McLaren catered to his skillset, so as you say, he will likely be a better manager for the French GP.
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  Jan 28 2020 - 20:03
f1ski

Posts: 726
Renault/lotus went downhill after his arrival. His time there was far from smooth. He led the driver at McLaren with the "form zero" or something like that that gave the car minimal frontal area and drag. They had the numbers from their time with renault and had so many problems with heat. they inspired honda to use the staged turbo that lacked the torque to drive the mgu h. Under his leadership they refused to leave that concept. He leaves honda leaves and both fare much better away from him. I think if everyone stopped and thinks about it he always has had issues. Not unlike his hir Grosjean
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- Jan 29 2020 - 23:59