Rio de Janeiro’s new mayor has scrapped previous plans, criticized by world champion Lewis Hamilton and environmentalists, for building a new Formula One tour in the city.
Rio’s Environment Secretary Eduardo Cavaliere said on Twitter Monday that Mayor Eduardo Paes, who took office last month, had called for the process to be invested in obtaining an environmental permit.
“We are officially stepping up the construction of the Rio International Circuit in the Camboata forest area,” he said.
Last year’s Mercedes Hamilton driver had been critical of an attempt to build a new round, saying he would oppose cutting down a forest.
The Interlagos Sao Paulo tour subsequently agreed to a contract to hold the Brazilian Grand Prix on the Formula One calendar until 2025. Last year’s race was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The old Jacarepagua F1 rounds in Rio were demolished to make way for facilities for the 2016 Olympics. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro had backed a new privately built route.