Silverstone has received a boost ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix by being told they are welcome to discuss a new deal to keep the race ‘forever’.
Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali delivered the vote of confidence as fans prepare to descend on the old Northamptonshire airfield, which is due to host a crowd of 565,000 across the four-day weekend – beating by 45,000 the attendance record set in Adelaide 31 years ago.
With British drivers prospering and the sport flourishing, 175,000 tickets have been sold for Sunday’s race alone, also a new high.
Silverstone signed a £300,000 deal with Domenicali’s Formula One Management in 2024 to stage the event for 10 years, ending the practice of the Bernie Ecclestone era when they were offered piecemeal contracts to the chagrin of the circuit’s owners, the British Racing Drivers’ Club.
Now Domenicali appears to be cementing Silverstone even further into the sport’s future. Speaking to Daily Mail Sport, the Italian said: ‘I am ready to discuss that (a new deal). It is just a matter of sitting down and finding the right conditions. Silverstone deserves to be on the calendar. It is forever. There is no other place in the UK, not Brands Hatch, not Donington, that has the necessary capacity for Formula One. We are too big.
‘They are doing a good job on minimising any problems on the logistic side with so many people coming – a good problem to have.
F1 chief Stefano Domenicali wants to keep Silverstone as the British Grand Prix ‘forever’
‘This does not mean that Silverstone shouldn’t try to improve the quality of the offering every year. That is Formula One. They cannot sit back on their heritage but in the last few years they have grasped the need to provide the best product they can for the fans.
‘It is one of the most fantastic places to see the passion of motorsport. You get goosebumps, no matter what passport you have.’
Silverstone staged the first world championship grand prix in 1950 and, after alternating with Aintree and Brands Hatch, became the British Grand Prix’s sole host from 1987.
A street circuit in London has long been mooted, but Domenicali has categorically ruled that out as impractical.
