Ecclestone puts pressure on the Interlagos circuit

The Interlagos circuit hosted Formula 1 for the first time in 1972. Since then, it has been the setting for 30 Grand Prix, some of which in recent years have been decisive in the championship race.

However, its infrastructures have often been criticized, particularly those that accommodate the public and VIPs. Bernie Ecclestone has given an ultimatum to local officials regarding the improvement of commercial and event areas, sanitary facilities, as well as the paddocks and pit lane. According to the Briton, all of this would not be up to Formula 1’s expectations: « The track design is among the best in the world. But the facilities for the teams and fans are the worst on the calendar. »

To illustrate his point, Ecclestone uses the example of other circuits that host the discipline: « We cannot put pressure on other venues regarding improvements when we see the state of Interlagos. The other circuits know how Interlagos is, and consequently, they put us in a difficult position. »

In 2012, the circuit in São Paulo had announced the construction of a new paddock for 2013, but Bernie Ecclestone is growing tired of seeing nothing happen: “I do not expect any changes for this year, but if the circuit is not up to standard, then we will not go to São Paulo in 2014. We should know beforehand if we will go to São Paulo or another city in Brazil.” And the octogenarian added: “We will not even use that good old asterisk [used in provisional calendars] to indicate tentative circuits. I am tired of promises. I was told the city would not host any football competitions before the 2014 World Cup because the stadium is not ready. It will be the same for Formula 1, neither in São Paulo, and who knows, maybe not even in Brazil, because they do not have a circuit.”

Candidates are not lacking, however, as the mayor of Rio de Janeiro does not hide his desire to see Formula 1 return to his city, on a track built on the military facilities of Deodoro to replace the old Jacarepaguá, recently sacrificed on the altar of the 2016 Olympic Games.

The track in the seaside town of Penha, in the south of the country, or a circuit project designed by Hermann Tilke in Santa Catarina, could also be among the potential candidates. Last year, Bernie Ecclestone even paid a visit to this town, located in the south of the country, not far from Curitiba: « I must confess that I was impressed by the willingness of its people to support their project. I believe that if we gave them the green light, they would start construction right away. » However, before that, it will be necessary to terminate the contract that Interlagos holds for organizing the Brazilian Grand Prix until 2015.