MotorMouth – Plans for Formula One track to be built in native forest in Rio de Janeiro scrapped after growing opposition from environmentalists and Lewis Hamilton… who previously claimed it would ‘NOT be a smart move’ amid a ‘global crisis with deforestation’

02.02.21

Plans for Formula One track to be built in native forest in Rio de Janeiro scrapped after growing opposition from environmentalists and Lewis Hamilton… who previously claimed it would ‘NOT be a smart move’ amid a ‘global crisis with deforestation’

Plans to build a new Formula One track in Rio de Janeiro have been scrapped after coming in for criticism from environmentalists. The city’s environment secretary Eduardo Cavaliere said on Monday: ‘We are officially giving up on the construction of Rio International Circuit in the Camboata forest area.’. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton had last year slammed the attempt to build the new circuit, insisting he would be against cutting down forest. The Rio circuit was set to be constructed in the Camboata Forest in the Deodoro area of the city. Sao Paulo’s Interlagos circuit, which has staged the Brazilian Grand Prix since 1990, subsequently agreed a deal to keep the race on the Formula One calendar until 2025 when opposition to the proposals became evident.

Follow MotorMouth on social media: