F1 return to Rio now rests on environmental green light
The prospect of a Brazilian GP in Rio has moved a step closer after Formula 1 boss Chase Carey confirmed that he has agreed a deal with the organisation behind the event, but the proposed circuit remains in the planning stages and has yet to be approved in the face of opposition on environmental grounds.
The timing indicates that Carey is keen to list the race on the provisional 2021 F1 calendar.
Carey has been talking to a group in Rio for some time about an alternative venue in Deodoro, a military base that was utilised for some of the lower profile events at the 2016 Olympic Games, including hockey, rugby sevens, shooting, BMX, mountain biking, show jumping and the modern pentathlon. The planned circuit is located in the Camboata Forest, and its construction would involve the felling of thousands of trees.
In a letter sent to the acting governor of Rio, Claudio Castro, and dated September 14, Carey confirmed that a deal to run the race has been signed with the promoter, pending the granting of permission to proceed with the building of the venue.
Carey wrote: “I am writing to update you that we have now finalised race agreements with Rio Motorsports LLC to host, stage and promote Formula 1 events in Rio de Janeiro.
“These agreements are ready for execution and announcement by Formula 1 as soon as all necessary licences have been issued by the relevant authorities, INEA/CECA, in Brazil/Rio de Janeiro.”
The State Institute of the Environment [INEA] is still preparing the technical opinion regarding an environmental impact of the circuit construction project.
Once this step is complete, the opinion will be submitted first to the attorney general's office and then to the State Environmental Control Commission [CECA].
The loss of the city’s last forested area has generated considerable opposition in the form of petitions, with one campaign using the hashtag #BrazilSaysNoToDeforestation, which gathered momentum after Carey’s letter became known.
Carey's letter does not specify that the race has to be run in Deodoro, so attention could yet move to an alternative site.
The current deal for the Brazilian GP to run at Interlagos came to an end this year, amid a poor relationship between the Sao Paulo promoter and the current management of F1.
After Liberty Media bought F1 it discovered that Brazil was not due to pay a fee for the last few years of the contract as a legacy of a deal agreed with Bernie Ecclestone.
Share Or Save This Story
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Louis Foster drove “with a bit of rage” in Fast Six en route to Markham IndyCar pole
Richmond Raceway honors Denny Hamlin and family with touching tribute
Alex Palou crashes in Markham qualifying after rare IndyCar mistake
IndyCar Markham starting lineup: Louis Foster storms to pole as Alex Palou crashes
Could McLaren follow Red Bull’s path with its own F1 engine – and should it?
Top 10 rookie seasons in F1
Why F1 shouldn’t be hiding its most interesting characters
100 not out: Alex Albon on Williams’s desire to atone for its 2026 struggles
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments