Silverstone "will help" if F1 requires additional races this year

British Grand Prix

Silverstone "will help" if F1 requires additional races this year

Silverstone will welcome 140,000 spectators for the British Grand Prix

Sam Hall

Saturday 10 July 2021 15:20

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Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle has stated the British Grand Prix venue will "help" F1 with a second race should further events fall off the calendar.

Already this year, the Singapore, Canadian and Australian grands prix have all been cancelled due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic whilst the Chinese race remains listed as 'postponed'.

After the cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix earlier in the week, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali reiterated his desire to keep the promise of a 23 race calendar this year.

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However, with races in Japan, Brazil and Mexico in doubt and Brazil, Turkey and Abu Dhabi all on the UK government's red list, it is possible F1 may once again need to consider alternate plans.

"If we can help by having a race later in the season then we would be delighted to assist," Pringle told the PA news agency.

"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 "critical" to British GP viability

Last year, F1 twice raced at Silverstone for the British and 70th Anniversary grands prix although both races took place behind closed doors. This time around, up to 140,000 fans will line the circuit.

Speaking on the Silverstone podcast, Pringle reflected the UK government's decision to run this year's race as a 'test event' was "absolutely critical" to ensuring the track remained a "viable business".

He added: "Put it another way, if we hadn't [have been able to welcome 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."