F1 News
Sao Paulo Governor says “Formula 1 will not leave” Interlagos
- Bevan Youl
The governor of Sao Paolo has said that “Formula 1 will not leave” the Brazilian city as its contract comes close to an end next season ahead of plans for a motorsport facility to be built on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro.
F1 has visited Brazil’s Interlagos circuit in Sao Paolo since 1990 but it’s current contract to remain on the calendar comes to an end in 2020.
The Brazilian Grand Prix hasn’t been the most successful in revenue but attracts some of the largest TV audiences around the world due to the great races that have occurred there over the years.
A proposal was made and approved by the newly elected president Jair Bolsonaro earlier in the year for a new motorsport facility to be built in Deodoro on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro to move the Brazil GP to there.
But Sao Paolo governor Joao Doria insists that it will remain at Interlagos.
Doria said (quoted by Terra): “Formula 1 will not leave São Paulo.
“Rest assured that it will continue here. There was a lot of desire from Rio to take the F1, but from São Paulo it will not leave. We will not allow F1 to exit.
“Currently, we made arrangements with Liberty so that F1 will continue here in São Paulo.”
A contract is yet to be signed between either Sao Paolo or Rio de Janeiro beyond Interlagos’ current one that ends next year.