The government in Switzerland has lifted the ban on circuit racing. Although it seems unlikely that a Grand Prix will take place in the country, it is noteworthy that the ban, which was active since 1957, is giving up. The Swiss government introduced the ban on racing after the 1955 24 hours of Le Mans. In addition, 84 people were killed when a racing car was thrown into the public after a collision. The race went on and the accident is still considered one of the greatest disasters in motorsport history. The lifting of the ban could be an entrance to a Grand Prix in Switzerland, yet the government does not expect it to get that far. Speaking to French Sports News, Swiss Transport minister Simonetta Somaruga explained: “Nothing will change. Switzerland does not have a suitable race track. In the future, too, no major races will be held in Switzerland with vehicles with an internal combustion engine.” The fact that the country had a ban does not mean that no races were held. For example, the ban applied only to competitions on a circuit. Formula E was present in the country in 2018 and in 2019. A special permit was issued for street circuits in Zurich and Bern. It contradicts the ban, which stated that races on circuits were prohibited for safety reasons.
