Jean-Claude Marcourt, the government’s economics minister, was responding on Tuesday in a parliamentary committee, following media reports that France looks set to return to F1 in 2013.

Those reports suggested France’s Paul Ricard circuit will share a single alternating annual date with Spa, the fabled Belgian venue.

Marcourt explained that, in a bid to reduce costs, the government had last year begun to look into possibly alternating its grand prix with another European host.

A “non-binding document” with France was circulated, with an answer necessary by the end of 2011.

“On January 1 there was nothing,” Marcourt is quoted by RTL Sport Belgium. “Now the French seem to be catching up.

“In four or five weeks, we have to clarify everything. I do not want things drawing out so that we get to the end of the contract not knowing what is going to happen.

“We are awaiting the response from France,” he added.

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