Autosportfoto

F1: Massa: Important for F1 to stay in Brazil despite struggles

Felipe Massa calls on F1 to remain in Brazil long-term despite recent struggles, with no home driver set to appear on the grid next year.

Felipe Massa believes it is "very important" that Formula 1 keeps the Brazilian Grand Prix on its calendar in the long-term despite looking poised to have no home drivers on the grid next year and ongoing financial concerns.

Massa raced in his final home grand prix last weekend at Interlagos ahead of his retirement from F1 at the end of the season, with his departure set to leave the grid absent of Brazilians for the first time since 1969.

Financial concerns have put the long-term future of the Brazilian Grand Prix in doubt despite its existing F1 contract running to 2020, while the added pressures of the safety issues that arose over last weekend's race have also led to greater questions about how much longer Interlagos will be on the calendar.

However, Massa stressed the importance of retaining a foothold for F1 in Brazil given its long-standing history in the country, with the likes of Ayrton Senna, Rubens Barrichello, Nelson Piquet and Emerson Fittipaldi.

"I really hope Formula 1 stays forever in Brazil. Definitely Brazil is a very important country for F1," Massa said.

"So many titles, so many drivers, so many Brazilian drivers raced for F1 since the start, so I really hope Interlagos stays in F1 for a very long time, and anything I can give to help, not racing any more, I can do.

"It is true that we are suffering not an easy moment in Brazil, financially, but I think it's a very important event for São Paulo, it's a very important event for Brazil F1.

"For me it's very difficult to answer - but I really hope Brazil stays for a very long time in Formula 1."

Zdroj: crash.net