Interlagos promoter insists Rio won't host Brazilian GP

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Brazilian Grand Prix promoter Tamas Rohonyi is confident the F1 race will remain at Interlagos for the foreseeable future, dismissing a switch to Rio de Janeiro from 2021.

Earlier this year, Rio made a bid to host the Brazilian Grand Prix at a purpose-built facility located on the outskirts of the city, with the endeavor receiving the full support of the country's president, Jair Bolsonaro who claimed there was a 99 percent chance the race would change venues.

However, Sao Paulo is eager to remain the race's home in Brazil beyond next year, with Rohonyi questioning the viability of Rio's plans.

"Either F1 remains here or there will be no Brazilian GP," Rohonyi told Autosport.

"I make no comments about Rio de Janeiro that I do not know, but what I do know is that there is a land with trees and animals, and so far there remains a land with trees and animals.

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"I think it is physically impossible for an international event to happen there in 2021.

"But there are people who don't agree with that.

"Rio became an option because of the president's support, and Bolsonaro had Chase Carey by his side when he said F1 was 99% back in Rio de Janeiro. Today he wouldn't say that."

Bolsonaro initially targeted last September as the starting point for the construction of Rio's future Motorpark facility, the foundation of which has yet to break ground.

Rohonyi says Brazil's president put the cart before the horse and was poorly advised.

"He was badly advised as there was no reason to say that," he said.

"For those who want to host an F1 GP in 2021, you would need to have the track ready in May of that year. It's late 2019, so you have 16 months for that."

Interlagos' current deal with Liberty Media expires at the end of next year, but Rohonyi hopes to secure a long-term ten-year agreement with F1 in the coming months.

"It is increasingly difficult to work with short term contracts," the promoter said. "Big companies do long-term planning.

"Heineken, for example, has its largest market is Brazil, and these guys do not work in terms of two or three years."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.