Interlagos boss ignores Brazilian COVID crisis: “Fans will attend the GP”
Brazil, one of the worst-affected countries in the world, is expected to host the second-last race of the F1 season. Regardless of Liberty Media’s efforts to contain the outbreak, Interlagos' boss Tamas Rohonyi claims that the GP won’t run behind close doors.
Brazil has already counted 30.000 deaths due to Coronavirus, and the new cases everyday amount to more or less the same number for a total of half a million. Those crazy numbers become even more frightening when referred to the city of Sao Paulo, who counts for a fifth of the total Brazilian cases alone.
City’s major still considers the situation already under control, therefore the not-that-strict restrictions to social interactions have been removed today.
Sao Paulo is one of the biggest metropolis of South America, and for what concerns our sport, the home of the Interlagos GP. The race welcomed about 150.000 paying spectators last year alone and doesn’t seem to be willing to lose those revenues in 2020.
“The Brazilian GP will be held with fans on the grandstands” circuit’s boss Tamas Rohonyi told Forbes, apparently facing against all the precautions Formula 1 is considering to take.
“Preparations for the Brazilian Grand Prix are on schedule and we are certain that the famous Interlagos circuit will be the stage of yet another fascinating race. The event will be run under the existing contract without difficulty. We expect confirmation of the November date by the FIA to put tickets on sale like the other flyaway races."
https://www.motorlat.com/notas/f1/15607/mercedes-stands-against-reverse-grids
The FIA hasn’t replied yet, but it’s likely to assume there is going to be an arm-wrestling match between the two parties. The Federation is indeed being very cautious regarding COVID-19 in particular after the polemics that followed the last-minute Australian GP cancellation.
Measures such as frequent tests on the very restricted amount of team and paddock personnel allowed to the races are already on schedule and, so far, no fans will be allowed in when the season will eventually kick off in July.
November, when the Brazilian GP is supposed to take place, is far ahead and the race may be postponed by an extra week. Nevertheless, it’s very unlikely that Liberty Media will take such a risk of lighting up a new outbreak around the World.
LAP 66/71
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