From GMM

Former quadruple world champion Alain Prost this week met with the French president Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss the importance of the French grand prix.

French radio Europe 1 said Prost, who earlier admitted his support in staging a formula one race near Paris following the demise of the Magny-Cours event, discussed with Sarkozy the benefits to France of a continuing presence on the sport's annual calendar.

Europe 1 explained that the main topics discussed by 54-year-old Prost, also a former F1 team boss and owner, were the benefits of the race to France in terms of the local economy and international media exposure.