The French GP is now back on the schedule in its’ original slot on June 28. The FIA announced that following the ending of the dispute over TV rights between TF1 and FR3 they would allow the race to take place as originally scheduled on June 28.

At one point it looked almost certain that there would not be a French GP at all in 1998 because of the ongoing legal dispute over which TV network would show the race, but after discussions that went all the way up to the French national assembly — which voted for a compromise bill that gave the FIA sanctioned broadcaster the right to screen the whole race, whilst allowing other broadcasters to screen excerpts — it seems that, at least for this year, the matter has been settled.

The fate of the Belgian GP is still questionable pending decisions on tobacco advertising bans and once again the Portuguese GP has been cancelled because track modifications could not be completed in time for the race.

As the French GP has been reinstated to its’ original date in June it is no longer in the running as a replacement for the cancelled Portuguese GP. Other possible replacements are Herez (Spain), Kyalami (South Africa) and Zhuhai (China) which is thought to be a likely venue for 1999, and may still be called upon this year if any more races (Belgium ?) are cancelled.