F1 2019
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- Start date
Indeliblelink
\......👁&👁......./
Mother's Day in the UK was in March.
You had me worried I'd forgotten for a second.
You had me worried I'd forgotten for a second.
Ax^
Silly Rabbit
I haven't seen any Rich Energy drinks in the shops here, anyone seen them in their local shops? They are spending millions on sponsorship so I'd have expected to see their products everywhere
have seen it in one shop which is a slightly dubious store at the best
they used to sell 2 cans in a display case on there website for around 250gbp
appears to have disappears now
Limejuice
Well-Known Member
I've just watched the re-run on Sky.
(After attending a certain Anglo-Irish rugby final in Newcastle, I'm impressed that I regained my sight in time.
)
Well, the Mercedes domination continues.
Ferrari seem to keep falling over their own shoelaces. I fear blood on the walls at the scuderia.
(After attending a certain Anglo-Irish rugby final in Newcastle, I'm impressed that I regained my sight in time.
)Well, the Mercedes domination continues.
Ferrari seem to keep falling over their own shoelaces. I fear blood on the walls at the scuderia.
1%er
Well-Known Member
A flavor of the Italian press
"Ferrari is getting worse!" That was the Italian newspaper headline in the Corriere dello Sport this morning. Their views get worse. “What is the problem at Ferrari? If there was only one problem, the problem is that Ferrari is overflowing with problems at the moment. The car is not good when entering the corner or when it comes out of the corner. The last sector was dramatic for the car and one can actually already say: ciao, we will see each other again in 2020!"
The Gazzetta dello Sport also had negative views and had major digs at Ferrari. “The Ferrari season was well summarized in the race by Vettel. His race translated the Ferrari season perfectly: it is hopeless. At Ferrari, they tried everything on a tactical level, just like they try everything this season, but it all comes from hopelessness".
The Italian press did dished out some praise, but it wasn't for Ferrari it was for Verstappen “He is the one who makes the car perform better than is possible. He managed to defeat Leclerc and Vettel like a true falcon and, as always, was the great master of handling the tires. Verstappen has left the mistakes behind and only thanks to him can a driver with a Honda engine be third in the championship".
Toto "I'd understand if Lewis moved to Ferrari"
Over the weekend Lewis Hamilton laughed off the suggestion that he had threatened a move to Ferrari while negotiating his contracts with Mercedes in the past. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said recently that he would understand if Hamilton had a desire to switch to the Scuderia. Hamilton has been repeatedly linked with a move to Ferrari across his career and said of a switch to Maranello in 2017: "It's definitely a dream for every driver, including me". Asked if he had considered the chance of Hamilton being tempted to Ferrari, Wolff told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "Of course, and we also talked about it openly with each other. Ferrari is a phenomenal brand, the most prestigious in F1, and every driver dreams of winning a world championship with the Cavallino".
Asked about Toto's remarks after winning the Spanish Grand Prix, Hamilton was quick to press home his loyalties to Mercedes "I have never made it a secret that I've been a Ferrari fan, particularly Ferrari cars, and that's no secret. Do I plan on going elsewhere? I haven't made any plans for my future. At the moment I'm just enjoying driving with this team. I'm enjoying continuous growing with this team and, I mean, it's incredible what we're achieving together, what we have achieved in these six years, seven years or whatever it is, and I plan on working with this team to help it become the most successful team of all time. That's my current goal and my sole focus. I don't really remember what he's [Toto] referring to, I think when you're in negotiations you always have to drop in the Ferrari name!" Hamilton said.
"Ferrari is getting worse!" That was the Italian newspaper headline in the Corriere dello Sport this morning. Their views get worse. “What is the problem at Ferrari? If there was only one problem, the problem is that Ferrari is overflowing with problems at the moment. The car is not good when entering the corner or when it comes out of the corner. The last sector was dramatic for the car and one can actually already say: ciao, we will see each other again in 2020!"
The Gazzetta dello Sport also had negative views and had major digs at Ferrari. “The Ferrari season was well summarized in the race by Vettel. His race translated the Ferrari season perfectly: it is hopeless. At Ferrari, they tried everything on a tactical level, just like they try everything this season, but it all comes from hopelessness".
The Italian press did dished out some praise, but it wasn't for Ferrari it was for Verstappen “He is the one who makes the car perform better than is possible. He managed to defeat Leclerc and Vettel like a true falcon and, as always, was the great master of handling the tires. Verstappen has left the mistakes behind and only thanks to him can a driver with a Honda engine be third in the championship".
Toto "I'd understand if Lewis moved to Ferrari"
Over the weekend Lewis Hamilton laughed off the suggestion that he had threatened a move to Ferrari while negotiating his contracts with Mercedes in the past. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said recently that he would understand if Hamilton had a desire to switch to the Scuderia. Hamilton has been repeatedly linked with a move to Ferrari across his career and said of a switch to Maranello in 2017: "It's definitely a dream for every driver, including me". Asked if he had considered the chance of Hamilton being tempted to Ferrari, Wolff told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "Of course, and we also talked about it openly with each other. Ferrari is a phenomenal brand, the most prestigious in F1, and every driver dreams of winning a world championship with the Cavallino".
Asked about Toto's remarks after winning the Spanish Grand Prix, Hamilton was quick to press home his loyalties to Mercedes "I have never made it a secret that I've been a Ferrari fan, particularly Ferrari cars, and that's no secret. Do I plan on going elsewhere? I haven't made any plans for my future. At the moment I'm just enjoying driving with this team. I'm enjoying continuous growing with this team and, I mean, it's incredible what we're achieving together, what we have achieved in these six years, seven years or whatever it is, and I plan on working with this team to help it become the most successful team of all time. That's my current goal and my sole focus. I don't really remember what he's [Toto] referring to, I think when you're in negotiations you always have to drop in the Ferrari name!" Hamilton said.
beesonthewhatnow
going deaf for a living
Good to see the rule changes have really made the racing closer this season 
The whole sport needs a reset. By people that actually understand it.
So that won’t happen, obviously
The whole sport needs a reset. By people that actually understand it.
So that won’t happen, obviously
1%er
Well-Known Member
Second in-season test
Valtteri Bottas topped the timesheet on the first day of the second in-season test conducted at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. The Mercedes driver was comfortably ahead of the field, putting 94 laps under his belt and clocking in with a 1m15.511 that was 1.8s faster than Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat concluded the day third fastest, edging Renault's Nico Hulkenberg and McLaren's Carlos Sainz.
The morning unfolded with out any major drama with Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas clocking before the lunch break with the fastest lap using the C3 tyre, which was last weekend's designated soft compound. The Finn's 1m16.525s lap eclipsed the hard-shod Ferrari of Charles Leclerc by 0.797 seconds. The gap between the two front-runners and third-placed man Carlos Sainz was over a second, with the McLaren driver just edging Red Bull's Pierre Gasly who put in the most laps in the morning session while Vettel rounded off the top five.
In the afternoon, Bottas picked up where he had left off, bolting on a set of C5 tyres - a compound two steps softer than the rubber used in Sunday's race - to a time of 1m15.511s, just 0.105 slwoer the his pole position in Spain. Leclerc also improved his personal best, although he did it late in the day with a charge using the C2 tyre. Kvyat was another driver to put in a flyer in the closing stages of the session, an effort that yielded P3 on the timesheet.
Haas Will have to make changes to it livery
Rich Energy, the title sponsor of the Haas Formula 1 team, has lost a legal battle over its stag logo after being adjudged to have copied the design of a bicycle company. Rich Energy became the title sponsor of Haas ahead of the 2019 season after an unsuccessful attempt by owner William Storey to buy the old Force India operation midway through 2018. However, the energy drink company has been fighting a legal battle against Whyte Bikes after being accused of copying its stag logo, with the case being ruled on at the High Court in London on Tuesday. Whyte Bikes sought as part of the copyright infringement claim for "the removal of the logo of the First Defendant, Rich Energy Limited, from the Formula 1 race car and website of the Rich Energy Haas Formula 1 motor racing team," as per the judge's report.
FOM confirm return to Zandvoort in 2020
The Dutch Grand Prix will return to the Zandvoort seaside circuit for at least three seasons from 2020 and after a 35-year absence from the calendar, Formula One announced on Tuesday. The race is sure to be well attended with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, 21, boasting a huge following as his country’s most successful driver and Formula One’s youngest ever race winner. Dutch beer giant Heineken will be the title sponsors and the hosting agreement is with a partnership of SportVibes, TIG Sports and Circuit Zandvoort.
Formula One chairman Chase Carey said in a statement “From the beginning of our tenure in Formula One, we said we wanted to race in new venues, while also respecting the sport’s historic roots in Europe, next season, therefore, we will have a brand new street race that will be held in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi, as well as the return to Zandvoort, after an absence of 35 years. We’ve seen a resurgence of interest in Formula One in Holland, mainly due to the enthusiastic support for the talented Max Verstappen, as seen from the sea of orange at so many races”.
Verstappen who is third overall in the championship after finishing third in Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix said “It’s just an iconic, historic track, I have raced there before with F3 and it was a lot of fun. I compare the track a little bit with Suzuka, It’s a pretty quick track and it’s always good and exciting to have new ones on the calendar. It’s very cool, and with no runoff, it’s quite hard to find the limit. On some other tracks, it’s a bit easier but that also makes it more exciting”.
Next year’s race will be the 31st time the Dutch Grand Prix has been part of the Formula One World Championship, with Zandvoort making its first appearance on the calendar in a 1952 race won by Ferrari’s Alberto Ascari. The late British world champion Jim Clark won there a record four times. The last Dutch Grand Prix was in 1985. The race deal is the second, after Vietnam, negotiated by U.S.-based Liberty Media since taking over the sport in 2017 (I know the French GP returned last year but that wasn't down to Liberty Media that deal was done by Bernie).
Two drivers under pressure
As mentioned above, Robert Kubica's Formula 1 return might be in jeopardy with Williams after just five races. The Pole completed a fairy tale comeback eight years after his rally accident left him with serious arm injuries and having completed numerous tests with Renault and Williams since 2017. However, his performances have been disappointing as he is yet to beat teammate George Russell in their private battle at the back of the grid. Kubica has blamed his pace on what he believed to be differences between his chassis and the Briton, however, when they swapped cars in Barcelona, the 20-year-old was still faster. Now, Le Journal de Montreal has reported Nicholas Latifi, who is also a Williams reserve, could be getting ready to step into the second seat in the coming races. The current F2 series leader is driving at this week's test in Spain.
Word is that Antonio Giovinazzi must start delivering results or else, after his two appearances replacing Pascal Wehrlein in 2017, the Italian got a second chance at the former Sauber team this season following Charles Leclerc's promotion to Ferrari. So far though he has failed to capitalise with only one Q3 appearance in Baku and is yet to score a point compared to teammate Kimi Raikkonen's 13. And given the competitiveness within the midfield plus the presence of drivers like Mick Schumacher in Ferrari's Academy, Giovinazzi really need to up his game if he wants to remain at Alfa Romeo.
Valtteri Bottas topped the timesheet on the first day of the second in-season test conducted at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. The Mercedes driver was comfortably ahead of the field, putting 94 laps under his belt and clocking in with a 1m15.511 that was 1.8s faster than Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat concluded the day third fastest, edging Renault's Nico Hulkenberg and McLaren's Carlos Sainz.
The morning unfolded with out any major drama with Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas clocking before the lunch break with the fastest lap using the C3 tyre, which was last weekend's designated soft compound. The Finn's 1m16.525s lap eclipsed the hard-shod Ferrari of Charles Leclerc by 0.797 seconds. The gap between the two front-runners and third-placed man Carlos Sainz was over a second, with the McLaren driver just edging Red Bull's Pierre Gasly who put in the most laps in the morning session while Vettel rounded off the top five.
In the afternoon, Bottas picked up where he had left off, bolting on a set of C5 tyres - a compound two steps softer than the rubber used in Sunday's race - to a time of 1m15.511s, just 0.105 slwoer the his pole position in Spain. Leclerc also improved his personal best, although he did it late in the day with a charge using the C2 tyre. Kvyat was another driver to put in a flyer in the closing stages of the session, an effort that yielded P3 on the timesheet.
Haas Will have to make changes to it livery
Rich Energy, the title sponsor of the Haas Formula 1 team, has lost a legal battle over its stag logo after being adjudged to have copied the design of a bicycle company. Rich Energy became the title sponsor of Haas ahead of the 2019 season after an unsuccessful attempt by owner William Storey to buy the old Force India operation midway through 2018. However, the energy drink company has been fighting a legal battle against Whyte Bikes after being accused of copying its stag logo, with the case being ruled on at the High Court in London on Tuesday. Whyte Bikes sought as part of the copyright infringement claim for "the removal of the logo of the First Defendant, Rich Energy Limited, from the Formula 1 race car and website of the Rich Energy Haas Formula 1 motor racing team," as per the judge's report.
FOM confirm return to Zandvoort in 2020
The Dutch Grand Prix will return to the Zandvoort seaside circuit for at least three seasons from 2020 and after a 35-year absence from the calendar, Formula One announced on Tuesday. The race is sure to be well attended with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, 21, boasting a huge following as his country’s most successful driver and Formula One’s youngest ever race winner. Dutch beer giant Heineken will be the title sponsors and the hosting agreement is with a partnership of SportVibes, TIG Sports and Circuit Zandvoort.
Formula One chairman Chase Carey said in a statement “From the beginning of our tenure in Formula One, we said we wanted to race in new venues, while also respecting the sport’s historic roots in Europe, next season, therefore, we will have a brand new street race that will be held in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi, as well as the return to Zandvoort, after an absence of 35 years. We’ve seen a resurgence of interest in Formula One in Holland, mainly due to the enthusiastic support for the talented Max Verstappen, as seen from the sea of orange at so many races”.
Verstappen who is third overall in the championship after finishing third in Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix said “It’s just an iconic, historic track, I have raced there before with F3 and it was a lot of fun. I compare the track a little bit with Suzuka, It’s a pretty quick track and it’s always good and exciting to have new ones on the calendar. It’s very cool, and with no runoff, it’s quite hard to find the limit. On some other tracks, it’s a bit easier but that also makes it more exciting”.
Next year’s race will be the 31st time the Dutch Grand Prix has been part of the Formula One World Championship, with Zandvoort making its first appearance on the calendar in a 1952 race won by Ferrari’s Alberto Ascari. The late British world champion Jim Clark won there a record four times. The last Dutch Grand Prix was in 1985. The race deal is the second, after Vietnam, negotiated by U.S.-based Liberty Media since taking over the sport in 2017 (I know the French GP returned last year but that wasn't down to Liberty Media that deal was done by Bernie).
Two drivers under pressure
As mentioned above, Robert Kubica's Formula 1 return might be in jeopardy with Williams after just five races. The Pole completed a fairy tale comeback eight years after his rally accident left him with serious arm injuries and having completed numerous tests with Renault and Williams since 2017. However, his performances have been disappointing as he is yet to beat teammate George Russell in their private battle at the back of the grid. Kubica has blamed his pace on what he believed to be differences between his chassis and the Briton, however, when they swapped cars in Barcelona, the 20-year-old was still faster. Now, Le Journal de Montreal has reported Nicholas Latifi, who is also a Williams reserve, could be getting ready to step into the second seat in the coming races. The current F2 series leader is driving at this week's test in Spain.
Word is that Antonio Giovinazzi must start delivering results or else, after his two appearances replacing Pascal Wehrlein in 2017, the Italian got a second chance at the former Sauber team this season following Charles Leclerc's promotion to Ferrari. So far though he has failed to capitalise with only one Q3 appearance in Baku and is yet to score a point compared to teammate Kimi Raikkonen's 13. And given the competitiveness within the midfield plus the presence of drivers like Mick Schumacher in Ferrari's Academy, Giovinazzi really need to up his game if he wants to remain at Alfa Romeo.
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1%er
Well-Known Member
Second in-season test day 2 results
Here are the complete results from the second day of the second in-season test for the 2019 Formula One World Championship, from Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona.
Here are the complete results from the second day of the second in-season test for the 2019 Formula One World Championship, from Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona.
- Charles Leclerc Pirelli 1:17.349 118 Laps
- Kimi Raikkonen Alfa Romeo 1:17.715 80 Laps
- Kevin Magnussen Haas 1:18.101 (C3) 70 Laps
- Antonio Fuoco Ferrari 1:18.182 (C3) 90 Laps
- Alex Albon Toro Rosso 1:18.263 (C3) 77 Laps
- Nicholas Latifi Williams 1:18.915 (C4) 51 Laps
- Nick Yelloly Racing Point 1:19.107 (C3) 62 Laps
- Nikita Mazepin Mercedes 1:19.146 (C3) 94 Laps
- Jack Aitken Renault 1:20.445 (C2) 53 Laps
- Oliver Turvey McLaren 1:20.712 (C3) 52 Laps
- Lance Stroll Pirelli 1:20.745 90 Laps
- Dan Ticktum Red Bull Racing 1:20.883 (C2) 48 Laps
- Sette Camara McLaren No time 11 Laps
cybershot
Well-Known Member
This new Pirelli team could be one to watch.
Limejuice
Well-Known Member
They're a slick outfit...
1%er
Well-Known Member
Pirelli had two cars testing their tyres each day, so they were not testing for any team just the tyre company, that is why it says Pirelli
1%er
Well-Known Member
Has Montoya joined Racing Point
The rumor is that because he was seem wearing a Racing Point outfit and was seem a great deal in their garage during the Spanish GP that Juan Pablo Montoy has been employed by the team as some sort of mental coach for Lance Stroll who has only scored four points in 2019. Montoya who raced for Williams and McLaren during his time in Formula 1 also stopped his IndyCar racing in 2016. The Colombian won seven races cross a six-year stint in Formula 1.
Racing Point need to improve Lance Stroll's results quickly as there are lots of good young drivers in the wings, while his dad is a part owner of the team he is not the majority shareholder and other board members may well start asking questions about his continued position in the drivers seat if he doesn't pull his finger out soon.
Fernando Alonso has a massive crash in the Indy500 practice
Fernando Alonso says he has "no fear" about climbing back into the cockpit after his huge crash wrecked his McLaren Indycar yesterday. Indy500 practice resumes today as he prepares to clinch the final jigsaw piece for Motorsport's triple crown in just over a week. The two-time Formula 1 champion remains positive about the whole occasion. He will climb back into his papaya orange car later today to prepare for the start of qualifying on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters after the accident Alonso said "I think obviously there is a moment of stress, and this moment of danger that you feel you are in a single-seater and you are very fast and you will hit something at very high speed and it is going to hurt a little bit, all the accidents feel more or less the same way, here the difference is the speed you hit the wall is very high. I am always positive. We will be back stronger. The team is making sure everything is ready for tomorrow. I am ready for tomorrow. No fear. And we will be fast again".
Is Vettel cracking under the pressure
Following the recent Spanish GP, Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari were left further trailing Mercedes. Not only did the F1 team suffer another defeat at the hands of their long-time rivals but they also conceded a position to Red Bull's Max Verstappen. After finishing the race in fourth place, a Dutch reporter asked Vettel to summarise his last five years, to which Vettel replied: "Fuck you. Okay" Vettel's response can be attributed to many things but the biggest of them could be his frustration with a team that's been failing to achieve a championship victory for years.
Edd Straw and Scott Mitchell talk Ferrari
The rumor is that because he was seem wearing a Racing Point outfit and was seem a great deal in their garage during the Spanish GP that Juan Pablo Montoy has been employed by the team as some sort of mental coach for Lance Stroll who has only scored four points in 2019. Montoya who raced for Williams and McLaren during his time in Formula 1 also stopped his IndyCar racing in 2016. The Colombian won seven races cross a six-year stint in Formula 1.
Racing Point need to improve Lance Stroll's results quickly as there are lots of good young drivers in the wings, while his dad is a part owner of the team he is not the majority shareholder and other board members may well start asking questions about his continued position in the drivers seat if he doesn't pull his finger out soon.
Fernando Alonso has a massive crash in the Indy500 practice
Fernando Alonso says he has "no fear" about climbing back into the cockpit after his huge crash wrecked his McLaren Indycar yesterday. Indy500 practice resumes today as he prepares to clinch the final jigsaw piece for Motorsport's triple crown in just over a week. The two-time Formula 1 champion remains positive about the whole occasion. He will climb back into his papaya orange car later today to prepare for the start of qualifying on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters after the accident Alonso said "I think obviously there is a moment of stress, and this moment of danger that you feel you are in a single-seater and you are very fast and you will hit something at very high speed and it is going to hurt a little bit, all the accidents feel more or less the same way, here the difference is the speed you hit the wall is very high. I am always positive. We will be back stronger. The team is making sure everything is ready for tomorrow. I am ready for tomorrow. No fear. And we will be fast again".
Is Vettel cracking under the pressure
Following the recent Spanish GP, Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari were left further trailing Mercedes. Not only did the F1 team suffer another defeat at the hands of their long-time rivals but they also conceded a position to Red Bull's Max Verstappen. After finishing the race in fourth place, a Dutch reporter asked Vettel to summarise his last five years, to which Vettel replied: "Fuck you. Okay" Vettel's response can be attributed to many things but the biggest of them could be his frustration with a team that's been failing to achieve a championship victory for years.
Edd Straw and Scott Mitchell talk Ferrari
1%er
Well-Known Member
Add Morocco to the list
Formula 1's commercial managing director Sean Bratches has confirmed that the sport is exploring the option of bringing world championship events to Morocco and South Africa. Both countries have staged an F1 event before, with Casablanca in Morocco hosting a world championship Grand Prix in 1958 (I didn't watch that one). South Africa featured prominently on the schedule in the '70s and '80s. It last held a race at Kyalami in 1993, which was won by Alain Prost.
Bratches told reporters “We race on five continents now and the last habitable continent that we don’t race in is Africa, we’ve been having very productive conversations in South Africa and to a lesser extent in Morocco about bringing a grand prix, it’s really important to us.” Bratches explained that there is a high degree of interest from Morocco as the government sees it as a way to expand tourism “the vast majority of our grands prix are underpinned by government and it’s because it works. We shine a bright light on these cities”. he went on to say “It’s a marketplace in which we would like to race. We are a global sport. There’s a historic circuit in South Africa, Kyalami. Toby Venter, who owns the Porsche dealerships in South Africa has purchased it, fully remediated it, garages, paddock. Similarly to other markets around the world, we have been proactively approached by other areas such as Morocco, Marrakech. There’s a circuit there as well. I’m a little bit less familiar with the status, I suspect it’s not a Grade 1 circuit [the Moulay El Hassan circuit is Grade 2], but there is a high degree of interest”.
Interlagos Circuit should not be privately sold
The Sao Paulo council vote said that Interlagos Circuit should not be privately sold. The privatisation of the circuit put the race under threat before the move to Rio was even considered. The vote still needs to be approved by the mayor, but it represents a boost to the hopes of keeping the race at the circuit. The circuit has hosted races since 1990 and includes a few modern Formula 1 highlights including Lewis Hamilton's first title win. The mayor, Bruno Covas said recently, "There is no doubt that Sao Paulo can continue to host the Grand Prix. We have security, organisation and we carry out works annually for maintenance in the pits and paddocks". I think we will have to wait and see if he comes up with the money before we know for sure if the race will remain in Sao Paulo or in fact in Brazil at all.
Formula 1's commercial managing director Sean Bratches has confirmed that the sport is exploring the option of bringing world championship events to Morocco and South Africa. Both countries have staged an F1 event before, with Casablanca in Morocco hosting a world championship Grand Prix in 1958 (I didn't watch that one). South Africa featured prominently on the schedule in the '70s and '80s. It last held a race at Kyalami in 1993, which was won by Alain Prost.
Bratches told reporters “We race on five continents now and the last habitable continent that we don’t race in is Africa, we’ve been having very productive conversations in South Africa and to a lesser extent in Morocco about bringing a grand prix, it’s really important to us.” Bratches explained that there is a high degree of interest from Morocco as the government sees it as a way to expand tourism “the vast majority of our grands prix are underpinned by government and it’s because it works. We shine a bright light on these cities”. he went on to say “It’s a marketplace in which we would like to race. We are a global sport. There’s a historic circuit in South Africa, Kyalami. Toby Venter, who owns the Porsche dealerships in South Africa has purchased it, fully remediated it, garages, paddock. Similarly to other markets around the world, we have been proactively approached by other areas such as Morocco, Marrakech. There’s a circuit there as well. I’m a little bit less familiar with the status, I suspect it’s not a Grade 1 circuit [the Moulay El Hassan circuit is Grade 2], but there is a high degree of interest”.
Interlagos Circuit should not be privately sold
The Sao Paulo council vote said that Interlagos Circuit should not be privately sold. The privatisation of the circuit put the race under threat before the move to Rio was even considered. The vote still needs to be approved by the mayor, but it represents a boost to the hopes of keeping the race at the circuit. The circuit has hosted races since 1990 and includes a few modern Formula 1 highlights including Lewis Hamilton's first title win. The mayor, Bruno Covas said recently, "There is no doubt that Sao Paulo can continue to host the Grand Prix. We have security, organisation and we carry out works annually for maintenance in the pits and paddocks". I think we will have to wait and see if he comes up with the money before we know for sure if the race will remain in Sao Paulo or in fact in Brazil at all.
