Stefano Domenicali flew out to South America to discuss plans for a 'Caribbean Grand Prix'.
Brazil is currently the only city on the continent to host an annual race, though Argentina has also welcomed the Formula 1 circus in the past. Now, Colombia could be set for its own slice of F1 history under plans to begin hosting a race in the country.
Plans for the race, which would be marketed as the Caribbean Grand Prix, were first revealed in September. Jaime Pumarejo, mayor of the coastal city of Barranquilla, told local radio F1 delegates had already visited and that talks were "going very well".
It seems that is the case, as F1 chief executive Domenicali has been pictured arriving at the city's Ernesto Cortissoz Airport on a private plane. According to El Heraldo , he is there to further discuss the plans with general director of the Mexican Grand Prix Federico Gonzalez Compean also in attendance.
When discussing the proposed event in September, Pumarejo said he expects the race to attract more than 300,000 spectators over the course of a race weekend. He also suggested it could be on the calendar as early as "2024 or 2025", and would stay there "hopefully for 10 years".
He told Blu Radio : "Progress has been made in all the previous steps before a final decision. That is to say, they have already come to the city, they have found it comfortable and they have thought that there could be a different Grand Prix here, where nature would be one of the most important points."
Pumarejo also claimed that the event would be "self-sustaining" and that it would not come at a cost for the city or the country. "On the contrary, it would bring employment, tourism and recognition," he said, adding that two different "semi-street circuits" have been identified "within the metropolitan area".
Mirror Sport understands F1 chiefs are considering a wide range of proposals from countries and organisations keen to cash in on the sport's growing worldwide popularity. But Colombian officials appear to be among the closest to actually striking a deal, after talks over a long-awaited return to South Africa's Kyalami stalled.
While Colombia has never before hosted an F1 race, the country has produced drivers who have appeared in the series. That list includes Roberto Guerrero and Ricardo Londoño-Bridge, though by far the most successful was Juan Pablo Montoya who scored 30 podiums and seven race wins between 2001 and 2006.
