Massa seeks talks over Brazil GP future

Nov.10 - Felipe Massa is not convinced privatisation is the answer as Interlagos looks to safeguard the future of the Brazilian grand prix.

While Nico Rosberg has a chance to seal the 2016 title at Interlagos this weekend, the future of the race in Sao Paulo is in doubt, after Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA published the 2017 calendar with an asterisk for Brazil.

Recent reports have suggested the brand new mayor of Sao Paulo, Joao Doria, wants to privatise the Interlagos track, which has hosted F1 since 1990.

"I'd like to talk to the mayor," said Massa, who will contest his last home race in Sao Paulo, his native city, this weekend before retiring.

"I want to hear his ideas before responding about something I don't know about. If the privatisation happens for the good of the circuit, I am completely in favour," he told Brazilian journalists in a pre-weekend dinner.

"If the privatisation is for something else, as happened to the track in Rio de Janeiro, then I am not in favour," Massa added.

Massa, 35, also admitted he is worried about the future of Brazilian drivers in F1, with only Felipe Nasr left to carry the banner beyond 2016.

But there is a chance there will be no Brazilians on the grid at all next year.

"I hope that does not happen but there is a possibility," said Massa, "because Felipe has not signed a contract."

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Leopold

Leopold Pleijsier founded F1-Fansite.com in 2001 and has followed Formula 1 since the early 1980s. He writes about daily F1 news, race weekends, drivers and the sport’s history.

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