Massa, Nasr worried over Brazil GP future

F1’s two Brazilian drivers are worried amid speculation Interlagos could fall off the race calendar.

Recently, Brazilian grand prix promoter Tamas Rohonyi criticised Felipe Massa for suggesting the future of the race in Sao Paulo was in doubt.

But then the FIA this week published its 2017 calendar showing Brazil with mere provisional status.

"I had just answered a question," Massa told Brazil’s Globo, when asked about Rohonyi’s criticism.

"I have no idea about the terms of the contract, how it works, I just said that because of the difficult times in Brazil there is a chance of this happening."

Race organisers hit back at the FIA’s provisional status by insisting Interlagos has a valid contract.

Massa said: "I said the risk is independent of whether you have a contract or not. Germany has a contract and we were not there last year.

"For Bernie to start talking, putting pressure, we know that something is going on, and now the calendar comes out with a question mark," he added.

Also worried about the future is Sauber driver Felipe Nasr.

"I had heard rumours about the race," he is quoted by UOL. "It would be very sad to lose a race with so much history in formula one, not just for us drivers but also for the audience.

"For me, it would be a huge loss," said Nasr.