Brazilian GP promoter says cancellation notice 'doesn't stand up'

The promoter for the Brazilian Grand Prix is unhappy with Formula 1's decision to scrap this year's Interlagos round and "cannot accept" the reason behind the call.

A permanent fixture on Grand Prix racing's calendar, the Sao Paulo race was scheduled for November 15 as part of the sport's three-race visit to the American and South American continents.

However, a letter sent this week by The Formula One Group to promoter Tamas Rohonyi cited Brazil's ramping COVID-19 numbers as the reason behind its decision to steer clear of Brazil - and of Austin and Mexico City, with five teams expressing their concerns about travelling to the South American country later this year.

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But Rohonyi is at odds with Formula One's 'force majeure' call and its interpretation of Sao Paulo's situation relative to the coronavirus pandemic.

"First of all, this cancellation caught us not by surprise, but I must say the justification, the reasoning behind it, we cannot accept," Rohonyi told Motorsport.com.

"They talk about the virus infection rate in Brazil, which is a bit like comparing California to Florida in a country like Brazil, which is of continental dimensions.

"We have all the numbers for the state and the city of Sao Paulo. This data has been submitted to the FIA Medical Commission by our own medical officer, who is by the way, its vice president.

"And they are very good figures. In fact, if you look at the figures of Sao Paulo, even Brazil, in a proportional base, compared to England, it's much better.

"So when you read this cancellation notice we got from the FOM yesterday, it just doesn't stand up. It's clearly sort of an almost invented reasoning to cancel the race."

Rohonyi says Interlagos and Sao Paulo will pay a hefty price for the cancellation, compelling the promoter to contemplate legal action against F1.

“What I found really strange is that the whole approach is sort of rather simplistic," he added. "'Oh, it's the pandemic, we're terribly sorry, we don't want to go, we cannot go'."

"One of the reasons presented is that five teams expressed concern. Well, none of the F1 contracts say that we'll go and race in your country if the teams feel like it.

"F1 promoter agreements have only one clause which would allow any of the two parties to break off the contract, and none of this is force majeure.

"We are taking legal advice because there are massive losses by the municipality, and by my company.

"When you are a government official, and you spend public funds on whatever, if the justification for it is not rock solid, you can be sued by the public prosecutor, as it's a breach in your official obligations.

"The government said to me, ‘Mate, you have a contract to run. So you'd better run.’ I'll run if I can, but if I'm not allowed to run because F1 claims we cannot run, then it's not my fault.

"So quite rightly, although they're good friends of mine, the governor and mayor said, 'Well, will this stand up in court?'"

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