Don’t slag off Interlagos, says Luciano

Speaking in Sao Paulo today, Burti said: "Racing in Brazil and Sao Paulo is wonderful. This is my birthplace and to come here to race, of course I am very happy.

"Sure, we have many problems," he added, "especially with violence, and the news abroad is often very negative. People might be afraid to come to Brazil, but this is just the image. There are lots of reasons to come here: the soccer, the carnivals, the beautiful women, the steak and the cairpirinha."

Barrichello said that team mate Michael Schumacher's wife Corina would not attend the race because of the level of violence in Sao Paulo and added that 90 per cent of the drivers only raced there because they had to.

But Burti hit back over claims that the track itself was too bumpy, in a state of disrepair and a nightmare to get in and out of, saying: "Do we have bumps here? Yes. But it is not the only bumpy track on the calendar. It has its troubles and yes there were puddles in the pits and towers yesterday after the rain, but I think the Brazilian Grand Prix is above average."

Burti also took the chance to take a swipe at Silverstone, the home of the British Grand Prix.

"All races have their bad side," he said. "The traffic at Silverstone is worse than at interlagos because it is hell to get in there."