Judge Joao Andre de Vicenzo has said the cost of the event could not be justified and issued an injunction suspending the contract between organisers in Sao Paulo and Formula One.
Now it is up to city chiefs to try and overturn the condition by putting forward a convincing case that the economic benefits in both the short and long term of staging the race, is worth the large initial expense.
Time, however, is short – a new deal must by signed by early 2004 if Brazil wants to remain on the circuit.
According to the judge’s ruling, failure by Sao Paulo to cancel the contract within 30 days will result in a daily fine.
