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Brazilian GP of 2021 at Interlagos or in Rio? "A lot will depend on that"
- GPblog.com
Since 1973 Interlagos has been the host when it comes to the organisation of Grands Prix for Formula 1. However, the circuit has to contend with enormous debts and is dependent on state support and therefore it is uncertain whether the pinnacle of motorsport will be able to continue to travel to the Brazilian circuit in the coming years. It is therefore possible that in the near future there will be a new circuit in Rio de Janeiro, but Interlagos wants to prevent this at all costs. GPBlog talked to insider Rafael Lopes about the special situation.
Controversy
Last year even Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro called for Formula 1 to move to Rio de Janeiro in the near future. Interlagos totally disagreed with that and so it ended in a game of bickering.
"That has been a big controversy here," Lopes starts telling GPBlog. The Brazilian Formula 1 commentator of television channel Globo states that the construction in Rio has still not started. "São Paulo has a circuit ready and approved to receive Formula 1, while Rio still needs to approve its project in the environmental agencies and actually start construction. I am a native of Rio, I hope that the project works - as long as it is not done with public money."
Ambitious building plan in Rio
In 2020 the iconic Interlagos will still be ridden, but for the years to come that is by no means certain. "But at this moment, the status of the race track in Rio is still unknown. But it is a fact that the lobby is large to move the GP from São Paulo to Rio", says Lopes, who states that there is an ambitious plan to have everything ready as early as 2021. "The plan of Rio Motorsports, the company responsible for the racetrack project in Rio, is to bring the Brazilian GP to the city in 2021. But everything will depend on when (and if) the construction of the track will start."
The official estimated construction time of the circuit is fourteen months and that would mean that the construction of the circuit should start within a few months. "And even more important, when it comes to Brazil: when the work is going to end and if there will be no delays. As I said before, it is still a very nebulous situation." This makes it almost impossible to drive in Rio with Formula 1 as early as 2021.
Liberty and Ecclestone also involved
In the meantime, it has become a very political joust. "I think that at the moment it is more of a political problem between the direction of Liberty Media and the organization of the GP, which still has a strong influence from Bernie Ecclestone. And, of course, the fact that the Brazilian GP is exempt from paying the organization fee. And Liberty wants to change that." Interlagos still have an old contract signed in the Ecclestone era. It is said to expire after 2020, which does not make the situation any easier.