Just days before the Formula One 'circus' pays its annual visit to Silverstone - host of the first ever World Championship Formula One Grand Prix in 1950 - FIA President Max Mosley has given his strongest warning yet that the Northamptonshire venue is in danger of losing its place on the calendar.

Talking to Caroline Reid of the Daily Express, Mosley warned that the club's owner's - the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) - must find the necessary funding to bring the circuit and its facilities up to date, or risk losing the race.

"Either business, or the government, puts the money in or they will lose the Grand Prix," he said. "I don't think there's any doubt they will lose it if they don't."

At present the track has a contract until 2009, but after that it is entirely possible that unless the circuit meets the demands of Formula One Management the track could follow the way of Imola, Suzuka and Magny-Cours. With no viable alternative track - at least at present - there is every likelihood that Britain could lose its round of the World Championship for the first time since 1950. Ironically, this comes at a time when British youngster Lewis Hamilton is leading the World Championship.

Like F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, Mosley feels that the stumbling block is the BRDC, which Ecclestone effectively sees as a bunch of 'old boys in blazers', unable - or unwilling - to come to terms with the demands of the sport in the 21st century. Like Ecclestone, Mosley feels that change is needed.

"The BRDC should have sold the rights to somebody commercial and let them get on with it," he said. "But getting a lot of old gentlemen running it, it's a nice idea but it doesn't work."

The war of words has existed for some time, and in all honesty some have long grown tired of the constant sniping. That said, the threat to the future of the race is real, and without the Grand Prix - as we have seen at other circuits - it is doubtful whether Silverstone could survive. Then again, many feel that it is wrong for a business to focus much of its effort and resources on one annual event.

Despite talk of takeovers, masterplans and government subsidies, that has all it has remained, talk, and now Ecclestone and CVC, who have numerous other countries eager to join the F1 calendar, are turning up the heat.

If Silverstone is to retain its place on the calendar the money has to be in place and work on the circuit underway, before Ecclestone will even think of discussing a new deal beyond 2009.

Like Ecclestone, who has had great success persuading (mainly eastern) governments to finance their nations' F1 dream, Mosley believes that the British government should provide financial support for Silverstone - which will probably lead to a raft of politicians doing feasibility studies (also known as junkets) at this weekend's big race.

"It's a traditional thing in most western European countries that the government provides sporting facilities," said Mosley," clearly not having checked out the state of Britain's (dwindling) sporting facilities.

"Sorting out the British Grand Prix would cost a fraction of one per cent of the Olympic Games," he added.

In comments exclusive to Pitpass, Mosley warned that the threat to the future of F1 in Britain is real, even though a majority of the teams and their suppliers are based here.