Silverstone boss Stuart Pringle warns British Grand Prix ‘is not a given’ even without spectators

Silverstone boss Stuart Pringle warns British Grand Prix ‘is not a given’ even if it takes place behind closed doors as he urges F1 to make decision on race

  • Formula One are lining up two races behind close doors in Austria in early July 
  • It is hoped that two further races could then follow at Silverstone afterwards
  • Stuart Pringle said he is confident the British Grand Prix would still be a success
  • But the final decision regarding the race amid the coronavirus crisis is not his
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle has warned that this year’s British Grand Prix ‘is not a given’ even if it takes place without spectators.

The coronavirus pandemic has put Formula One’s plans to start the season on hold but they are now lining up two races behind closed doors in Austria in early July before potentially two more at Silverstone to kickstart the campaign.

All potential races will need government approval which is further complicated by countries being at different stages of lockdown with restrictions on movement and mass events.

Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle has warned the British Grand Prix ‘is not a given’

F1 plan to start the season with races in Austria before potentially two more at Silverstone

F1 plan to start the season with races in Austria before potentially two more at Silverstone

Pringle however maintained that Silverstone is keen to help the sport back on track but announced this week any race could only go ahead without spectators.

‘The end of April (decision deadline) for us was if we had to start putting up temporary infrastructure for hospitality and dealing with the public and stuff,’ Pringle said.

‘We are only working on fixed infrastructure (now) so it’s an awful lot less.

‘I’m confident we could operate well within F1’s decision-making cycle. I think they are the ones who have got to make the decision.’

But Pringle warned the decision to see if Lewis Hamilton can retain his prize is not in his hands

But Pringle warned the decision to see if Lewis Hamilton can retain his prize is not in his hands

The comments come after Formula One’s managing director Ross Brawn outlined plans for the sport to resume in an isolated environment and create a ‘kind of biosphere’ at circuits.

‘It’s a real consideration because one of the logistical challenges is getting everyone tested and cleared to enter the paddock and enter the racing environment,’ he said on the official F1 Nation podcast.

‘And I think once we do that, it’s very attractive to keep everyone in that environment, within that kind of biosphere that we want to create for another race.

The comments come after F1 director Ross Brawn outlined plans to resume the sport

The comments come after F1 director Ross Brawn outlined plans to resume the sport

‘It’s also pretty challenging to find the right sort of races early on where we can control the environment well enough.

‘Austria fits that bill very well. It’s got a local airport right next to the circuit, where people can charter planes into. It’s not too close to a metropolis, it has a great infrastructure around it.

‘There will be no motorhomes, but there will be a full catering facility laid on that the circuit has.’