3
Sao Paulo mayor Joao Doria has played down the violence that marred this year's Brazilian grand prix. After robbery attacks on Mercedes, Williams and FIA staff earlier at Interlagos as team staff travelled to and from the circuit, the next victim late on Sunday were members of Sauber. "As we came to the circuit today, there were so many police it looked as though civil war had broken out," said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
Local mayor Doria admitted he had ordered the security crackdown, but defended Sao Paulo. "What has happened cannot be justified," he is quoted by DPA news agency, "but I've seen worse cases at other race tracks. It was the first time we had a case of such seriousness," the mayor added.
Sao Paulo native Felipe Massa had been critical of the situation this year, saying Brazil must evolve as a country. "We are going through difficult times," said the F1 veteran. Mayor Doria responded: "I like Felipe very much, but circumstances like these have occurred on other racetracks in the world. And no one ever said he was ashamed to be from that country or to have that circuit. These are regrettable circumstances, but they can occur in any country," he told Globo.
Some insiders fear that the incidents of 2017 could be the death knell for Interlagos, with the city selling the circuit and Massa's retirement meaning there are no more Brazilians on the grid. "I hope formula one stays in Brazil," Massa said. "This country is too important, having had so many drivers, so many world champions."
Mayor Doria is confident Brazil's place is secure. "We have a contract until 2020 and whoever purchases the circuit must respect it. After that, we hope we can renew for another ten years," he added.
And when asked if the violent incidents of the past weekend might hurt negotiations for a post-2020 future, Doria answered: "No, because while bad things happening are unfortunate, it also means you make things better in the future." (GMM)
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
United Arab Emirates
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
4 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Felipe Massa
158,025 comments on Williams 39 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about Williams
Replies (3)
Login to replyajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
This does not happen in other countries. Even other dangerous countries. Mexico has had no incident whatsoever. It's also no surprise. When I attended this year the amount of security was astonishing.
kngrthr
Posts: 203
it's no good saying this can happen in other countries, or worse has happened at other race tracks.
that is totally irrelevant.
fix up your own back yard and let others deal with theirs.
what happened was totally unacceptable regardless if it happens else where.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Agreed.