Formula 1 Considering East London Street Race For British Grand Prix (Update)

Bernie must be involved. Whenever Bernie was negotiating with a track owner, rumors of alternative races immediately surfaced

UPDATE (GMM) The chances of a F1 street race in London have taken a clear step forward this week.

The boost comes as Silverstone exercised a post-2019 break clause in its existing long-term British grand prix contract.

Promoter the BRDC hopes to renegotiate the deal with Liberty Media, but representatives of the F1 owner are promising nothing.

"It is certainly our plan as long as we're running formula one to have a race in the UK," said F1 CEO Chase Carey.

And commercial boss Sean Bratches added: "From a formula one standpoint we are very committed to a British grand prix going forward."

Even London mayor Sadiq Khan is not ruling out the possibility of a London street race.

"I want London to be the sporting capital in the world," he said at the F1 demonstration extravaganza in London on Wednesday.

"If F1 want to talk to me, I'm happy to listen."

07/12/17 Formula 1 owner Liberty Media is considering moving the British Grand Prix to east London "if a deal cannot be reached with Silverstone," according to Rebecca Clancy of the LONDON TIMES.

F1 CEO Chase Carey said that he "wants more street races, including in London."

London Mayor Sadiq Khan was "thought to oppose the idea due to the pollution," but a source said that Liberty Media was "considering the Docklands area in east London."

The cars would race with Canary Wharf and the River Thames behind them. The Canary Wharf Group, backed by the Qatari Investment Authority, "owns much of the area." A statement from Khan said that "he would consider a race." He said, "London is always open to hosting the world's best sport events." LONDON TIMES

MOTORSPORT's Jonathan Noble reported Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner said that Silverstone "runs a real risk" of losing the British GP to a London street race. Horner said that Liberty "may feel that London could deliver for them." He added, "Silverstone is a wonderful track. The teams and the drivers love driving there. … But with this London event happening tomorrow, if that was a success — which hopefully it should be — with the recent legislation changes that are happening in the City of London, one can imagine a London Grand Prix being pretty attractive to the Liberty guys." MOTORSPORT