Silverstone has 'really bright' F1 future - Brawn

Ross Brawn says Silverstone has a "really bright future as part of Formula 1", despite the circuit's owners activating a break clause with F1. The British Racing Drivers' Club cited financial struggles last year as part of their decision to drop F1 from its schedule beyond 2019.

Silverstone has hosted the British Grand Prix every year since 1987 and 51 times in total. Only Monza and Monaco have hosted more grands prix.

The BRDC remain hopeful of negotiating a new deal with F1's new owners Liberty Media, having labelled their previous arrangement struck with Bernie Ecclestone as "not financially viable" owing to a 5% annual increase in their hosting fee.

Liberty appointed Brawn as F1's managing director of motorsport as part of their takeover last year and the former team principal offered a positive update on the famous Northamptonshire track.

"I think Silverstone has a really bright future as part of Formula 1," Brawn told the BBC.

"We've obviously got the topic of the race coming up, but we're very optimistic we'll find the correct solution between ourselves and the circuit for the future.

"There's a technical centre here, there's a school here, there's lot of businesses that are based here.

"It's great to see Silverstone prosper, it has had some tough times in the past, but I think it is on an upward trajectory."

After a decade off the calendar, the French Grand Prix will return this year, although there are concerns over the long-term stability of other classic European venues including Monza, while organisers of the German Grand Prix continue to deliver worrying updates.

The Nurburgring has not hosted F1 since 2013, while the Hockenheimring is not contracted beyond 2018.