The future of the Brazilian Grand Prix is a hot topic, with mayors of two of Brazil’s most iconic cities trading barbs over who can best host the prestigious Formula 1 event. São Paulo Mayor Ricardo Nunes has firmly pushed back against claims from Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes, who suggested São Paulo could lose it’s Formula 1 race to Rio.
mayor Paes, speaking with a confident tone, stated, “São Paulo increases the volume that Formula 1 will return to Rio.” He elaborated on his vision, challenging São Paulo by saying, “The challenge is, not onyl to have what already exists in Brazil and Rio de Janeiro lost, but also to bring Formula 1, Motovelocidade, Formula Indy, anyway… think about all the alternatives and hypotheses that we can have from 2029 onwards.” This statement is tied to Rio’s enterprising new Autódromo Parque de Guaratiba project, slated to begin construction in early 2026.
Though, Mayor Nunes remains unfazed, asserting that São Paulo’s Interlagos circuit, with its contract extending until 2030, is not going anywhere. He emphasized São Paulo’s superior capacity to host an event of Formula 1’s magnitude. “Never, never, never,” Nunes declared. “Here the Formula 1 management is very satisfied with its activity in the city. (…) It is very difficult for you to be able to do something better than what we have here.”
Nunes further detailed São Paulo’s advantages, citing critical logistical factors.”In addition to there being a whole condition that is analyzed in relation to the availability of airports, the issue of the hotel network, security,” he explained. While expressing admiration for Rio and his friendship with Mayor Paes, Nunes humorously noted, “He just sometimes wants to make some lame jokes, but he’s part of it.” He concluded with a strong assertion of São Paulo’s dominance: “Now, what we have here in terms of conditions to attend an event of this size, it is not in Rio, it is not available in any other city in South America.”
The proposed Guaratiba Racetrack in Rio de Janeiro is projected to cost R$1.3 billion and is designed to accommodate 120,000 spectators, including temporary seating. Rio has been without a Formula 1-caliber circuit as the demolition of the Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet in Jacarepaguá in 2012, which made way for the Barra Olympic Park, a key venue for the 2016 Olympic Games. The new rio project is set to be managed by the RockinWorld group, known for organizing major events like Rock in Rio and The Town in São Paulo, in partnership with genial Investimentos.
It’s certainly worth noting that Rio de Janeiro last hosted a formula 1 Grand Prix in 1989, a critically important gap that underscores the challenge of reclaiming such a prominent motorsport event.
