The British Grand Prix may no longer be held at the historic Silverstone circuit, as there are currently talks about a street race in London, BBC reports.
Silverstone’s contract with Formula 1 runs out after the race next month but it had apparently agreed to a new deal until it was told that F1 owner Liberty Media is pursuing a street race in the British capital.
F1 managing director Ross Brawn has previously stated that a race held on the periphery of London would not replace the British Grand Prix and could be held alongside a race at Silverstone. However, the circuit’s managing director Stuart Pringle believes a race held in the nation’s capital would mean the one at the track would no longer be commercially viable.
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“F1 have admitted to us for the first time that they want to have a race in London. That’s a material change because it’s different to previous arrangements and Britain is not a very big island and it’s a commercial concern,” Pringle said. “Throughout this process we have sought to manage the significant risk that comes with promoting an F1 race and this does nothing to reduce it.”
“In fact, it significantly increases the risk to Silverstone that only a few short years ago was nearly obliterated by its commitment to F1 and trying to maintain a British Grand Prix. We metaphorically and literally cannot afford to go back to that position,” Pringle added.
If two races were to be held in the UK, they would need to be close together on the calendar as the UK’s unpredictable weather means there’s only a small window in the F1 season where races can be held there. Silverstone is just 80 miles from central London.
