Silverstone to discuss contract after 2017 season

Silverstone will discuss its future with Liberty Media following the end of the 2017 season. In the week building up to the British Grand Prix, the British Racing Drivers' Club announced that it had activated a release clause in its contract that will see the venue stop hosting a race post-2019.

"We will sit down with Liberty," BRDC president Derek Warwick said to Sky Sports F1. "Maybe at the end of the year when everything's calmed down, we've got more time, they've got more time. How can there not be a British GP at Silverstone? I'm sure somehow we will find some way of signing a new contract."

The British Grand Prix has been held every year since the F1 world drivers championship was established in 1950. There have been some talks of the Grand Prix being moved to a different venue, such as a street race in the city of London.

Last weekend, Lewis Hamilton emerged victorious from the British Grand Prix, winning his fifth home race. After the event, he called for awareness to be raised over the future of the race and make sure that it is saved, something Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle appreciates. 

"He thrives on the passion and support he receives here at Silverstone and we're hugely grateful of his support for Silverstone," he proclaimed. "I'm really grateful for Chase and Sean for taking time out of their busy schedule to come and see what the event was about, not just from the Formula 1 paddock but they came out with me to see how operationally we put this event on. Sean spent a lot of time in the fan zone and really getting to grips with the feel. So I'm sure they'd have got a feel for what Silverstone is all about."

Fergal Walsh