It seems increasingly unlikely that Switzerland will host any Formula One racing in the near future. Indeed, federal ministers decided on Wednesday 10 February not the lift the ban on this kind of automobile race. Bern has forbidden all such events since the 1954 Mans tragedy in France, which left 80 people dead. New circuit guidelines have increased spectator security, but the Swiss government judged that the sport created too much air and noise pollution, while not bringing in very much money. Moreover, Bern felt that the sport was incompatible with current road safety objectives. The government fears that its citizens might be enticed to drive like Schumacher. Ulrich Giezendanner one of the people in favor of the races is national parliamentarian, who argues that building a circuit would create lots of jobs. He disputes the environmental critiques, saying that many other sporting events were not being judged as strictly. The issue now moves to parliament.

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