"Formula 1 must seize this opportunity with both hands"
Circuit Portimao
General
- GPblog.com
Several European circuits have emerged in recent weeks as possible replacements for Asian and American races that are coming to an end. One of them is the Algarve International Circuit near Portimao in Portugal. Tom Coronel wouldn't hesitate for a moment to race here.
Last weekend he did so with his Audi TCR car in a 24 hour race. This made him one of the first professional drivers to get back on the tarmac in Europe. Based on his experience with the Portimao circuit, he doesn't understand that the contract with Formula 1 hasn't already been signed.
"When I drove there last weekend, I already thought 'wow it must be cool to drive an F1 car here'. You have a lot of height differences and I know how it feels to drive a Formula 1 car. So I say: Portimao is absolutely suitable for Formula 1, I'm a thousand percent sure. That they haven't signed yet! They have to sign immediately, I would seize this opportunity with both hands", says the WTCR driver to Motorsport.com.
Formula 1 is less strong in negotiations
It's not only the circuit which is very cool for the drivers, but also the facilities around it are completely in order according to him. So Coronel already assumes that Formula 1 will be here for one or two races this year. That also has to do with the position F1 is in at the moment.
"Many countries are paying big money to F1 for a 'moment of fame'. But that works exactly the other way around right now, Formula 1 is looking for circuits where they can race at all. So the arrogance that Formula 1 has always had in the negotiations with circuits is gone".