Silverstone solution eluding Liberty Media

Ross Brawn has suggested that Formula 1 could soon pursue a British Grand Prix deal with other circuits, having failed to reach an agreement with Silverstone. The circuit which hosted the first ever Formula 1 race is set to drop off the calendar at the end of the year after track bosses enacted a break clause in their F1 contract.

As part of a deal signed with previous F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone, Silverstone's owners – the British Racing Drivers' Club – are subject to annual escalators, which would have seen the cost of hosting the race top £27million by the end of the deal in 2027.

Although F1's owners Liberty Media have talked up their desire to see Silverstone remain on the calendar, it will not return for next year as it stands.

"We want to find a solution with Silverstone," Brawn said at a pre-season press conference. "But we are differing in our views of what's reasonable.

"We're not far apart. It's frustrating that we can't find a solution.

"I don't think it will be the final British Grand Prix. Whether that's at Silverstone or not is another matter."

Brawn made it clear that alternatives could be found for Silverstone, if an agreement with the BRDC never materialises.

"Racing in the UK is important to us and obviously Silverstone has been the home of the British Grand Prix for the last few years," he added.

"But most of us here can remember it being held at Brands Hatch and it didn't seem that strange that we had a race at Brands Hatch one year and Silverstone the next.

"We are determined to make sure we keep a British Grand Prix, and hopefully at Silverstone, but there's no certainty."

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