Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has reiterated his desire to take the country’s Formula One grand prix to Rio de Janeiro from 2021.
The Brazilian Grand Prix has been staged at Interlagos in São Paulo since 1990 but the circuit’s hosting agreement expires following the 2020 event.
Bolsonaro has said Rio could stage the grand prix at a new racetrack that is yet to be built. The track would hold 130,000 fans – significantly more than the 60,000 Interlagos holds – and also stage music shows and other events.
Speaking at a news conference that was attended by Formula One chairman Chase Carey, Bolsonaro said, according to the Reuters news agency: “No one is trying to take Formula One away from São Paulo. The race will stay in Brazil, that’s what counts.”
Carey is due to meet with São Paulo governor Joao Doria this week to discuss the future of the race. Carey said that nothing has been decided yet but stated the series’ wish to host the event in a “destination city that captures the world’s imagination”.
