Rio de Janeiro is marching ahead with its plans to host the Brazilian Grand Prix in the future, unveiling yesterday the design of its track layout.
Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro took everyone by surprise recently when he stated that Rio would host his country's F1 event in 2020, a claim that contradicted the fact that Sao Paulo - the current venue for the Brazilian Grand Prix - is contracted to stage the race next year.
Undeterred, Rio has awarded a 35-year concession to US consortium Rio Motorsports that includes a lease on military land located on the outskirts of the city and the right to build a track.
The Rio MotorPark layout was designed in association with F1's resident architect Hermann Tilke.
"The proposal we have brought to Rio seeks to present a picture of a modern track, dynamic and full of emotion," said Tilke.
"At the same time, we think of a space with a multidisciplinary approach that allows a very wide range of use in other sports, serving the whole community."
Rio de Janeiro's plans to host the race still need to get through several levels of red tape and a barrage of opposition from environmental groups, not to mention the need to secure the funds to build its facility and run an F1 race.
Liberty Media is keen on a transfer of the Brazilian Grand Prix from Interlagos to Rio as the former no longer provides good monetary value for the sport's commercial rights holder.
Given the current contractual aspects of the event and the time constraints linked to the building of a new circuit, it's unlikely the Brazilian round of the F1 world championship will take place anywhere else than at Interlagos in 2021.
Thereafter however, the historic home of the Brazilian Grand Prix will be challenged to keep its spot on the calendar.
Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
Formula 1’s American revolution is no longer being discussed as a novelty. Inside Apple, it…
David Coulthard has never been short of superlatives in a racing career that took him…
He wasn't a flying Keke or Mika, but he was nevertheless a Finn and actually…
Max Verstappen’s bid to conquer the Nürburgring 24 Hours has ended in a cloud of…
Jenson Button has offered a stark, unusually candid reflection on what really sits beneath the…
For most young racing drivers, a call-up to Ferrari would feel like a dream. For…