Sao Paulo governor Joao Doria is again vowing to keep the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos after next season.
The future of the race at the historic circuit was cast into doubt earlier this year when the country’s president Jair Bolsonaro declared the race would be moving to Rio de Janeiro in 2020 at a new track in the suburb of Deodoro.
That date has since been pushed back to 2021 with the Autodromo Carlos Pace already having a contract in place for next year, but Sao Paulo isn’t giving up without a fight.
“Formula 1 will not leave São Paulo,” Doria was quoted by Motorsport Week as telling Terra.
Also Read:
“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.”
Interlagos has hosted the Brazil GP for every year since 1990 but recent incidents with crime during the race weekend and financial limitations have cast doubt over the race’s future.
F1 CEO Chase Carey has held talks with Sao Paulo over a new contract and while the country may not boast any current drivers on the grid, interest in Brazil remains high.
