Stefano Domenicali reportedly travelled to Colombia to discuss the possibility of bringing Formula 1 to the South American country in the future.
The Colombian city of Barranquilla expressed interest earlier this year in bringing Formula 1 to the country, likely under the “Caribbean Grand Prix” brand, and the city’s mayor, Jaime Pumarejo, said he was looking to see Colombia on the calendar starting in the 2024 season. .
Colombian publication El Heraldo reported that the leading Formula 1 executive flew from Mexico to Colombia after the race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, with talks to continue on his proposed career: Pumarejo hopes to secure a 10-year contract for a semi-urban progression in Barranquilla.
“What we can say is that the procedure is going very well,” the mayor told Blu Radio in September, quoted by MARCA. “Progress has been made on all previous steps before a final decision.
“The weather renovation effort we are doing in the city will be one of the biggest problems of this grand prix.
“In addition, it would be self-sufficient, that is, the progression of the career would charge the country and the city, but on the contrary it would bring employment, tourism and recognition.
“In one of the routes, the river is the protagonist, in no, they are not yet in the metropolitan domain of Barranquilla. We hope that if all this remains to be done, we will only communicate by 2024 or 2025 and it would be signed. for 10 years.
“It would be the occasion with the turnover in Colombia. A Formula 1 Grand Prix has a turnover in two or 3 days of 2. 5 times what Corferias (congress center in Bogotá) invoices over the total of the year.
However, Colombia’s proposed arrival on the calendar is expected to come at the circuit’s expense, however, Domenicali recently claimed that Formula 1 has now reached its “maximum” number of races, with a record 24 for next season’s calendar, as well as six speed races.
“23 to 24 races is a smart number, but I don’t need to talk about it anymore,” Domenicali was quoted as saying by Motorsport-Magazin. com.
“Places are selected around this number. Many points are taken into account, but the number of grands prix is clear. At 24, you reach the. “
“The market demands this number of races. Before we had 15 races, but it was a different situation. Now there is a lot of interest and I hope it will be even more vital in the future. “
Read more: Ted Kravitz named Max Verstappen’s ‘scapegoat’, denigrating RB press