“We would be delighted to assist” – Silverstone is ready to chip in with an additional race to ensure a 23-race F1 calendar this season.
Quite a few races have already been cancelled, or are likely to be in the coming weeks. The Singapore, Canadian and Australian GPs have all been cancelled due to the pandemic. The Japanese Grand Prix is in doubt, along with races in Brazil, Turkey and Abu Dhabi, with all three on the UK’s travel restrictions list currently.
In the scenario of more cancellations, Silverstone is open to the idea of a double-header. Silverstone MD Stuart Pringle confirmed this, as they prepare for the upcoming British Grand Prix next weekend.
“If we can help by having a race later in the season then we would be delighted to assist.
“Formula One deserves remarkable credit that they completed 17 races last year – the only global sport to have achieved such a feat – and I hope they can complete the calendar again.
“We have not been asked, and it is not a conversation that I have prompted, but if us hosting another race gets the championship to a sensible level, then of course we will help.”
Fans help Silverstone stay afloat
Silverstone is set to welcome a full house for the race next weekend, with the UK government easing restrictions. Pringle suggests this will help the race track survive the enormous financial impact of the pandemic.
“Put it another way, if we hadn’t [welcomed fans] our entire viability, our ability to survive Covid was probably stacked against us. I know for a fact, technically, we would not have been a viable business.
“There’s always a bit of wiggle room and ways you may be able to get around it but we were staring over the edge. It was highly, highly marginal and this decision has secured Silverstone.”
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