“It is a shame because by doing this you take away the possibility of having F1 stars entering what still is the most important race in the world. We could have had Hulkenberg and also other F1 drivers – motorsport fans are losing out.”
Hulkenberg’s Porsche crosses the line to win Le Mans in June
Neveu also condemned the FIA, motorsport’s governing body, for failing to protect Le Mans from a conflict of dates. “The FIA should have protected us better,” he said.
There has been an unofficial agreement in recent years that the FIA would make sure Le Mans is not on the same weekend as an F1 race.
The World Endurance Championship (WEC) is on a series on the up, with many current F1 drivers speaking warmly of competing in Le Mans at some stage.
Mark Webber, formerly of the beleaguered Red Bull team, made the jump to WEC with Porsche last year, while Fernando Alonso was close to racing at Le Mans this season only to be blocked by McLaren.