FIA president says “Portugal is excellent location”, but F1 slots are limited
The president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) has confirmed what motorsports fans in Portugal already feared: there is currently no room in the Formula 1 calendar for a race in Portugal.
Muhamed ben Sulayem said so himself after being asked by Lusa news agency about the possibility of the F1 championship returning to Portugal, where two races were held at the Algarve circuit in Portimão during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Portugal is an excellent location and already hosts other championships, such as rally raids,” said ben Sulayem. “However, Formula 1 has a restricted number of slots available.”
Ben Sulayem emphasised the challenges in managing the sport’s commercial and regulatory aspects, stating, “At the World Council, we focus on regulations and the commercial side. I try to strike a balance between the sports side and commercial interests. While Formula 1 should never abandon Europe, where it originated and remains a hub of innovation, the sport also needs to explore new regions.”
Portugal already hosts races of some of the most popular motorsport championships – from the MotoGP to WorldSBK – at the Portimão racetrack, although everyone from tourism and hotel bosses in the Algarve to Portugal’s motorsports federation have admitted to having the dream of attracting a F1 Grand Prix to the region.
