The future of the Mexican Grand Prix has been further thrown into doubt after new comments by the country’s president.
Leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is looking to introduce major reforms to Mexico including a program of cuts to his government’s budget.
And the public money which is used to fund the race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is set to be one of his first targets.
“I do not know how the F1 contracts are. If they are not signed, we will not be able to [offer money],” he said at a news conference on Tuesday.
“In some cases, events were financed by the tourism development fund and that fund is committed to the construction of the Maya Train (a new railway linking major tourist destinations).
“We do not know in what situation these contracts [with F1] are. We are going to review them. We will continue to support all sports but with austerity, without excess, without waste.”
Also Read:
- Liberty reject risking traditional F1 races in favour of new venues like Vietnam
- Mexico & Russian GP promoters support Liberty after FOPA criticism
2019 sees the last year of the current deal between Mexican GP organisers and Liberty Media and while the event only returned to F1 in 2015, it has become a favourite for the atmosphere in the stadium section, something that has also brought strong commercial value to the race.
Negotiations continue over a new contract, but without the government backing that many Grand Prix’s receive around the world an agreement became much less likely.
