Members of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Formula One have met with Chase Carey in a bid to save the British Grand Prix.

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Formula One, which was formed to "support the sport and industry of Formula One", is chaired by Sir Jeffrey M. Donaldson, the UK Parliamentary Ambassador for Motorsport, with Philip Davies, Ian Paisley and Gavin Shuke as its vice-chairs.

Last week, the group met with Motorsport UK chairman David Richards and F1's chief executive Chase Carey in a bid to save the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, next weekend's event currently the last after the British Racing Drivers' Club, owner of the Northamptonshire track, opted to exercise a clause in its 17-year contract after the ever-increasing hosting fees made it financially impractical to continue.

Also attending the meeting were Lord Hain, John Whittingdale and Victoria Prentis as the group ponders how best to safeguard the future of British motorsport and ensure that the British GP is a success.

While further details are not known, the bottom line is that unless the group has found the money to allow Silverstone to continue hosting the race or Formula One Management (FOM) has decided to lower its fees - both of which scenarios are highly unlikely - it very much looks as though next weekend's race will be the last.

In recent weeks, Silverstone managing director, Stuart Pringle has been critical of FOM for the lack of progress whilst also admitting that its desire to host a race in London further compromises the future of the race at Silverstone.

Picture Credit: F1APPG/Twitter

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by FQITW, 09/07/2019 9:21

"If we do lose the British GP for good then for sure any future Championship will be discredited and tarnished without it.

It won't be regarded as a WORLD Championship by millions of fans."

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2. Posted by BritishBruce, 08/07/2019 10:51

"As F1 continues to retreat behind a "Pay Wall" for many next weekend's British Grand Prix is the only time this year they will be able to see a F1 race live on TV.
I am one of the lucky few who will actually be at Silverstone for the race. Whilst I matter to the sport's sponsors (probably as a photographic backdrop!) even more important to them are the eyeballs in the global TV audience. As that continues to decline one can see the attraction of the sport to sponsors waning.
Suppose, for example, some big players like Lawrence Stroll (2 cars) and Dietrich Mateschitz (4 cars) - particularly the latter - get fed up, is there a queue of new teams ready to fill their racing boots?
I have great sympathy with the BRDC and in truth their stewardship of a great circuit is more important than a single race meeting. Brands Hatch survives on its reputation and its last Grand Prix was 1986.
Many of us laughed at Formula E, but it could just have the last laugh! As previously said above it is the present.
"

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3. Posted by Chris Roper, 08/07/2019 9:07

"@TokyoAussie

I would think that BREXIT will have a greater negative impact on all of the accompanying businesses, engineers, teams, etc. than losing the British GP. Rather than a Catalyst, losing the British GP will just be an added incentive for all the teams to relocate to Europe. Cost issues aside, F1 is time sensitive, the teams do not have the luxury of waiting for a part to clear customs and to an Engineer heritage is nice as long as it is not getting in the way of efficiency and progress.

I would be sad to see the Silverson race fall by the wayside but not surprised.

I just look forward to enjoying F1's final decade as the "Pinnacle of Motor Sport" before it fades into insignificance and "internal combustion becomes" a curiosity of a bygone age.

Watching the two electric Cars fighting over the "Hill Climb Record" at Goodwood yesterday was a taste of the future or should I say the present.
"

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4. Posted by TokyoAussie, 08/07/2019 4:28

"F1 is going to be in deep do-do if the UK does not have a race, especially if it becomes permanent. I think that's a tipping point along the lines of Churchill's remarks about the Battle of Britain. In this case, losing the British GP, with all of the accompanying businesses, engineers, teams, etc. being based there, isn't the end of the beginning but more like the beginning of the end."

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MPs meet with Carey in bid to save British Grand Prix

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