The incredible story of the Swiss Grand Prix held in Dijon

Switzerland is preparing to lift its ban on circuit racing, sparking speculation about the return of Formula 1. But can we really talk about a comeback?

Switzerland may be a familiar name in Formula 1, but the country has hosted very few races on its own soil. The main reason for this lies in the tragedy that unfolded just across the border in France. On June 11, 1955, during the 23rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Pierre Levegh's Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR collided with Lance Macklin's Austin-Healey on the 35th lap. The Mercedes took off at over 200 km/h, left the track and crashed into the crowd, killing 84 people, injuring more than 200 and shocking thousands of spectators. This disaster sent shockwaves through the automotive world. Mercedes withdrew from motor racing for good, not returning to Le Mans until 1998 and to Formula 1 until 2010. Switzerland's reaction was even more severe: the country banned all circuit racing, allowing only hill climbs. Despite this ban, Swiss motorsport continued to produce remarkable talents and teams: Clay Regazzoni, Formula 1 runner-up in 1974 and multiple Grand Prix winner; Sébastien Buemi, former F1 driver and multiple winner at Le Mans and in Formula E; as well as the Sauber F1 team and Rebellion Racing in endurance competitions.

Formula 1 in Switzerland Before the ban, Switzerland hosted Grand Prix races on the Bremgarten circuit, a 7.28 km track reminiscent of the former Spa-Francorchamps circuit. From 1934 to 1954, the six pre-war Swiss Grand Prix races were all won by German manufacturers: one by Auto-Union and five by Mercedes-Benz. After World War II, eight post-war races were held; only the last race in 1954 was won by Mercedes-Benz with Juan Manuel Fangio, with the other seven victories going to Ferrari and Alfa Romeo. The Le Mans disaster in 1955 put an end to Grand Prix racing in Switzerland, although hill climbs and other off-track events continued. It was not until 2018 that a circuit race made its return, when Zurich hosted a temporary circuit for the Formula E E-Prix, won by local hero Sébastien Buemi.

When a Grand Prix takes place abroad Although no Formula 1 Grand Prix has been held on Swiss soil since 1954, the name “Swiss Grand Prix” has resurfaced twice on French soil, at the Dijon-Prenois circuit near the border. The first edition, in 1975, was a non-championship race: Jean-Pierre Jarier (Shadow-Ford) took pole position but retired due to a transmission failure, while Swiss driver Clay Regazzoni triumphed in his Ferrari 312T, ahead of Patrick Depailler and Jochen Mass.

The second edition, on August 29, 1982, was part of the world championship. Alain Prost took pole position and led 77 of the 80 laps before being overtaken by Finland's Keke Rosberg, who claimed his first world championship Grand Prix victory, a win that paved the way for him to take the title that year. Rosberg's victory was complemented by Prost in second place and double champion Niki Lauda in third, marking the last Swiss Grand Prix to date. As discussions about lifting the ban gather momentum, a future Grand Prix in the Swiss border region could soon become a reality, paying fitting tribute to the country's drivers and teams and remembering the lives lost in the tragedy of 1955.