Mexican GP latest to come under threat of leaving F1

Mexican GP latest to come under threat of leaving F1

Joas van Wingerden

Monday 4 February 2019 14:29

The highly popular Mexican Grand Prix is now in doubt for the future, adding more uncertainty over the Formula 1 calendar. Claudia Sheinbaum, the mayor of Mexico City, has announced that there will be no more government backing for the race beyond this year's event in October.

Sheinbaum told El Financiero, Mexico's major national business newspaper, that the F1 funding will instead go into the Mayan Train infrastructure project.

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"By 2020, the federal government no longer has the resource because it is allocating most of the fund to the completion of the Mayan Train," Sheinbaum said.

"There will be Formula 1 in 2019 because the amount has already been allocated since last year," she added.

Sheinbaum said discussions with the race promoter Ocesa are being held to find alternative funding.

"We have sat down with Ocesa to see if the amount can be lowered or if there are some other alternatives," she said.

It has been reported that the Formula E race at the same venue will be unaffected as it is more affordable to host.

Doubts over the Italian and British Grands Prix in particular have heightened in recent weeks, while the Formula One Promoters' Association, representing 16 of the 21 race hosts on the calendar, have threatened to walk away from F1 due to concerns over the deals given to new races and the dwindling presence of free-to-air television coverage.

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