Interlagos to be dropped from 2020 calendar

[Lord Crc]

Really? Because I think every single year someone associated with the Grand Prix is robbed at gunpoint. Do you think that happens at other tracks on the calendar?

That's really not acceptable IMO, regardless of track.

[Siao7]

Really? Because I think every single year someone associated with the Grand Prix is robbed at gunpoint. Do you think that happens at other tracks on the calendar?

That's really not acceptable IMO, regardless of track.

Exactly, racing is entertainment, it is not worth being robbed at gunpoint under any circumstances.

[Jezza13]

Really? Because I think every single year someone associated with the Grand Prix is robbed at gunpoint. Do you think that happens at other tracks on the calendar?

That's really not acceptable IMO, regardless of track.

Exactly, racing is entertainment, it is not worth being robbed at gunpoint under any circumstances.

Some would argue that's basically what Bernie was doing to everyone involved in the sport & it's fans for the last few decades.

[theARE]

There are some elevation changes though that's not apparent from the overhead map
BBC have a 3D rendering of the lap

There are actually some bits that feel quite similar to Interlagos

The track drops downhill from the first corner, it's not as much of a drop as Interlagos but it has a similar feel
The last corner also looks a lot like Interlagos (just again less severe)

I'd rather they didn't move it - but the onboard doesn't look as bad as the map suggested
It still feels like the Brazilian Grand Prix - just a bit flatter

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/formula1/48380990

[FlavioPassos]

I have a couple of associates from Brazil and they are adamant that there is nothing to worry about. They say it's just politics and populist speeches/talking points. They don't think there's any way that this circuit will be built and they firmly believe that any F1 race in Brazil will remain at Interlagos. Not sure if anyone in here from Brazil would like to chime in but I have heard this from two Brazilian people who I know personally.

I am from Rio de Janeiro and I tell that your associates are absolutely correct. The F1 race will remain at Interlagos. No one around here really believes that a new track will be built that makes possible the move from Interlagos to Rio. Not in 2020, not in a near future.

Good to hear from a local!

Can I ask why is that?

Ok, here I am, back from the grave to give an answer I never did. The answer would be the same "It's just politics and populist speeches/talking points". Sadly I must add incompetence and corruption. And now, I can say I was wrong when I thought the race would remain at Interlagos.

The truth is that it is looking more and more that there will be no race in Brazil in the near future. As a long-time fan of F1, we went from having no more Brazilian drivers to having no more open TV broadcasting from next year (and not even knowing if there will be any type of broadcast that doesn't cost much). And now we are getting presented to the idea of not having more races around here. The future doesn't really look bright for F1 in Brazil.

Edit: Of course, things can change, but I have no hope that this will happen based on logical reasoning.

[Siao7]

I have a couple of associates from Brazil and they are adamant that there is nothing to worry about. They say it's just politics and populist speeches/talking points. They don't think there's any way that this circuit will be built and they firmly believe that any F1 race in Brazil will remain at Interlagos. Not sure if anyone in here from Brazil would like to chime in but I have heard this from two Brazilian people who I know personally.

I am from Rio de Janeiro and I tell that your associates are absolutely correct. The F1 race will remain at Interlagos. No one around here really believes that a new track will be built that makes possible the move from Interlagos to Rio. Not in 2020, not in a near future.

Good to hear from a local!

Can I ask why is that?

Ok, here I am, back from the grave to give an answer I never did. The answer would be the same "It's just politics and populist speeches/talking points". Sadly I must add incompetence and corruption. And now, I can say I was wrong when I thought the race would remain at Interlagos.

The truth is that it is looking more and more that there will be no race in Brazil in the near future. As a long-time fan of F1, we went from having no more Brazilian drivers to having no more open TV broadcasting from next year (and not even knowing if there will be any type of broadcast that doesn't cost much). And now we are getting presented to the idea of not having more races around here. The future doesn't really look bright for F1 in Brazil.

Edit: Of course, things can change, but I have no hope that this will happen based on logical reasoning.

This does not sound good. I hope it changes soon, Brazil has a bit of history with F1!

Also, good to hear from you

[jimmyj]

Regardless of the reasons, I would be sad to see this track go. Too bad everything is such a mess.

[Banana Man]

I think F1 should leave Interlagos, mainly because they can’t seem to guarantee the safety of the team personnel. The recurring armed muggings are unacceptable and the well-being of the teams has to be the primary concern.

I’m also slightly uneasy about that run up the hill to the start line, especially in the wet. We’ve already had a near disaster with the Alonso/Webber accident, then Kimi’s spin on, when he nearly got wiped out by a Marussia. Massa crashed in the same race near the pit entry, Di Resta crashed in a similar place, Max had a big slide. It’s only down to luck we haven’t had Hubert-style torpedo into an already wrecked car, hidden in the spray. The complete lack of runoff there just isn’t safe IMO.

[mikeyg123]

I think F1 should leave Interlagos, mainly because they can’t seem to guarantee the safety of the team personnel. The recurring armed muggings are unacceptable and the well-being of the teams has to be the primary concern.

I’m also slightly uneasy about that run up the hill to the start line, especially in the wet. We’ve already had a near disaster with the Alonso/Webber accident, then Kimi’s spin on, when he nearly got wiped out by a Marussia. Massa crashed in the same race near the pit entry, Di Resta crashed in a similar place, Max had a big slide. It’s only down to luck we haven’t had Hubert-style torpedo into an already wrecked car, hidden in the spray. The complete lack of runoff there just isn’t safe IMO.

We have lots of flat out turns in F1 with zero run off...

[Jezza13]

I’m also slightly uneasy about that run up the hill to the start line, especially in the wet. We’ve already had a near disaster with the Alonso/Webber accident, then Kimi’s spin on, when he nearly got wiped out by a Marussia. Massa crashed in the same race near the pit entry, Di Resta crashed in a similar place, Max had a big slide. It’s only down to luck we haven’t had Hubert-style torpedo into an already wrecked car, hidden in the spray. The complete lack of runoff there just isn’t safe IMO.

How do you feel about Canada then?

[Paolo_Lasardi]

I think F1 should leave Interlagos, mainly because they can’t seem to guarantee the safety of the team personnel. The recurring armed muggings are unacceptable and the well-being of the teams has to be the primary concern.

Is that going to be any different in Rio de Janeiro, though?

[Banana Man]

I think F1 should leave Interlagos, mainly because they can’t seem to guarantee the safety of the team personnel. The recurring armed muggings are unacceptable and the well-being of the teams has to be the primary concern.

Is that going to be any different in Rio de Janeiro, though?

I honestly don’t know. I was under the impression that the Circuit Carlos Pace was on the edge of a rough ‘shanty town’ and not in a good part of São Paulo.

I hear what people are saying about other circuits with little or no run off but nowhere makes me wince quite like that corner at Interlagos.

[Schumacher forever#1]

I'm glad Hamilton has sort of spoke out about this. If F1 really want to turn over a new, green, leaf, maybe they should entirely reject Brazil's proposal of building a new F1 circuit. I believe it's 70,000 trees that will be destroyed to build this circuit, which is completely avoidable. Or, since Hamilton has nearly all the accolades in F1, maybe he could protest by not showing up for the next Brazilian GP at all, and really bring some initiative to stop the deforestation issue that's rampant in Brazil.

[Asphalt_World]

I'm glad Hamilton has sort of spoke out about this. If F1 really want to turn over a new, green, leaf, maybe they should entirely reject Brazil's proposal of building a new F1 circuit. I believe it's 70,000 trees that will be destroyed to build this circuit, which is completely avoidable. Or, since Hamilton has nearly all the accolades in F1, maybe he could protest by not showing up for the next Brazilian GP at all, and really bring some initiative to stop the deforestation issue that's rampant in Brazil.

Yes, it strikes me that there more than enough circuits in the world that are either already suitable for F1, in terms of safety if not layout or plenty of other circuits that would benefit from a few quid spend updating them to F1 standards. Just look at the F1 circuits that were built over the past 20 years which are no longer used. The billions spent on them!

[mikeyg123]

I'm not saying it's a good thing but is the cutting down of trees somewhat of a red herring? Isn't 200,000 acres of amazon rainforest destroyed every single day? The amount of forest lost to the race track is totally nominal in comparison.

[Banana Man]

I'm not saying it's a good thing but is the cutting down of trees somewhat of a red herring? Isn't 200,000 acres of amazon rainforest destroyed every single day? The amount of forest lost to the race track is totally nominal in comparison.

It is somewhat of token land mass but as with the engines, it really doesn’t look good to be proclaiming green credentials and doing something like this. I wouldn’t mind if they guaranteed that a larger area of forest was being replanted elsewhere but the cynic in me thinks that would be promised and never materialise.

[Schumacher forever#1]

I'm not saying it's a good thing but is the cutting down of trees somewhat of a red herring? Isn't 200,000 acres of amazon rainforest destroyed every single day? The amount of forest lost to the race track is totally nominal in comparison.

To make a comparison, BLM protests weren't primarily caused by the killing of George Floyd. That was just the straw that broke the camels back. In that same regard, the F1 community could use this as a spring-board for finally tackling areas of real damage to the environment.

Under its current president, Brazil is arguably doing more harm than any other country in destroying our environment. A protest such as Hamilton not showing up (I use him as an example, as he's the biggest activist in terms of climate change) to the next Brazilian GP, could go a very long way in raising awareness for this issue that currently exists in Brazil. Even simpler would be to talk fairy cakes about Brazil's neglect of the Amazon rainforest in the post-race interviews, rather than about the race.

[Asphalt_World]

I'm not saying it's a good thing but is the cutting down of trees somewhat of a red herring? Isn't 200,000 acres of amazon rainforest destroyed every single day? The amount of forest lost to the race track is totally nominal in comparison.

Me, recycling far more than I did 20 years ago is nominal across the globe. But lots of nominal actions make one big gain.

[mikeyg123]

I'm not saying it's a good thing but is the cutting down of trees somewhat of a red herring? Isn't 200,000 acres of amazon rainforest destroyed every single day? The amount of forest lost to the race track is totally nominal in comparison.

Me, recycling far more than I did 20 years ago is nominal across the globe. But lots of nominal actions make one big gain.

Sure but if we all recycle it makes a difference. A race track is only going to be built once. I'm not saying I'm for it really. Just struggling to understand why we find this outrageous in the context of what is happening in the country anyway.