Would a London Grand Prix kill off the Silverstone race?

Would a London Grand Prix kill off the Silverstone race?

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Sam Sheehan

Original Poster:

71 posts

136 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
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Silverstone is understandably nervous of a London GP, what with it being only 80 miles north of the capital and the race likely to be held within a matter of weeks of its date due to the UK's weather. It reckons too few people would come to the Silverstone GP to make it financially viable.

The BRDC is therefore threatening to not renew its contract if Formula 1 pursues a London race. So I'm wondering, if the city got one, where would you go to watch the race?

City races have improved somewhat in recent years. But Silverstone is the home of British motorsport. Plus, Maggots, Becketts is going to be hard to beat.


Andy S15

399 posts

126 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
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For me, (and I'm sure quite a few others) it isn't about the location, it's about the price. I'm simply not rich enough to purchase a ticket for an event which may or may not be a borefest. If a London race was more affordable then I'd certainly give it a go.

No other country has 2 GP's. I'd say it's almost certain that a London race would kill off the Silverstone one, unless they did an alternate year deal like Germany had.

SmoothCriminal

5,041 posts

198 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
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Why do they keep going on about "UK" weather we are hardly in northern canada or Siberia ffs.

The only reason they are worried about the weather is because of that year those muppets at Silverstone parked the cars in a boggy field and we looked like a laughing stock to the world.

They could easily host the race in any month from may onwards till the end of September especially in London.


Sixpackpert

4,533 posts

213 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
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SmoothCriminal said:
Why do they keep going on about "UK" weather we are hardly in northern canada or Siberia ffs.

The only reason they are worried about the weather is because of that year those muppets at Silverstone parked the cars in a boggy field and we looked like a laughing stock to the world.

They could easily host the race in any month from may onwards till the end of September especially in London.
The MotoGP was cancelled last year because of the weather...August.

That and the fact that they re0surfaced the track and the water wouldn't run off it!

Pericoloso

44,044 posts

162 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
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The FIA should wait to see how well the "London E Prix" goes as formula E have a date in place for next season in

Docklands.

I just can't see "proper" racing working on any London streets.

Vaud

50,194 posts

154 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
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It won't be a true "London race" with all of the landmarks, a la Monaco - it would be a East London thing with probably a lot of festival/music, etc attached.

Silverstone is massively over rated in my view, and I've been both as a regular spectator and as a guest of a team with full paddock/pit access.

I'd rather spend my money on going to the Dutch, Belgian or Italian GP.

Europa1

10,923 posts

187 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
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SmoothCriminal said:
Why do they keep going on about "UK" weather we are hardly in northern canada or Siberia ffs.

The only reason they are worried about the weather is because of that year those muppets at Silverstone parked the cars in a boggy field and we looked like a laughing stock to the world.

They could easily host the race in any month from may onwards till the end of September especially in London.
Wasn't that the year the FIA decided the race ought to be in April, instead of the usual July?

StevieBee

12,751 posts

254 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
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As much as I like the idea of a London GP, I really cannot ever see it happening.

From an aesthetic perspective it needs to be central London (imagine the startling on The Mall with Bucking Palace in the background!) but from a practical perspective would need to be in the East requiring corporation from the Boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets, home to some of the poorest people in the UK living amongst some of the most expensive real estate in the UK where conflicts between the have and have nots are stark.

I don't wish you come over all Guardian Lentilist but can you imagine the council meeting where they need to sign off on F1 on their streets....a sport that represents brands like Rolex, Mercedes, Aston Martin and one that - in the eyes of the uninformed - represents everything opposite to sustainability and all that.

Will never happen. Even with its fluffy green credentials, I'm surprised FE got a race although that is all on private land.

But if it did......

The UK is home to the most informed and committed motor sport fans. Whether two GPs could prevail is dependent upon the end-user costs. The market size is big enough to accommodate two races (as there used be in years past with the Race of Champions and the Grand Prix) - but the ticket prices for both would have to come down a lot from where they are at the moment.


SydneyBridge

8,481 posts

157 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
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Surely they would not have two British GP's- it would either be one or the other

didn't they used to have a European GP that used to be in a different place every year?

Kraken

1,710 posts

199 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
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Silverstone is probably one of the worst tracks in the UK as far as spectacle goes. Yes it's fast but a load of cars doing 175mph looks pretty much the same as a load of cars doing 195mph unless you're in one of them.

I'd rather it stays there though than ruin another UK circuit or having yet another street track.

tight fart

2,853 posts

272 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
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Can't see it happening, the cost alone off filling in the potholes would prohibit it.

sgtBerbatov

2,597 posts

80 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
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People moaning about the price of it have to remember that Silverstone receives no Government backing, whereas other tracks do.

You'd also have to remember that it'd be incredibly expensive to go and see an F1 race in London. Everything would be inflated. Anyone parking at Wembley can vouch for this. And at the baseball during the weekend the cheapest ticket was £60, when in America the cheapest ticket is between $10-$15.

London would kill off the popularity of a British GP in my opinion, let alone Silverstone.

Could we not bring the F1 back to Aintree? Make it a double header with the Grand National?

SeeFive

8,280 posts

232 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
quotequote all
sgtBerbatov said:
People moaning about the price of it have to remember that Silverstone receives no Government backing, whereas other tracks do.

You'd also have to remember that it'd be incredibly expensive to go and see an F1 race in London. Everything would be inflated. Anyone parking at Wembley can vouch for this. And at the baseball during the weekend the cheapest ticket was £60, when in America the cheapest ticket is between $10-$15.

London would kill off the popularity of a British GP in my opinion, let alone Silverstone.

Could we not bring the F1 back to Aintree? Make it a double header with the Grand National?
Yeah, with jockeys in the cars and drivers on the horses. Sounds like fun.

SturdyHSV

10,076 posts

166 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
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StevieBee said:
From an aesthetic perspective it needs to be central London (imagine the startling on The Mall with Bucking Palace in the background!) but from a practical perspective would need to be in the East requiring corporation from the Boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets, home to some of the poorest people in the UK living amongst some of the most expensive real estate in the UK where conflicts between the have and have nots are stark.

I don't wish you come over all Guardian Lentilist but can you imagine the council meeting where they need to sign off on F1 on their streets....a sport that represents brands like Rolex, Mercedes, Aston Martin and one that - in the eyes of the uninformed - represents everything opposite to sustainability and all that.
I think this is a fair point, Liberty would want it to be stereotypically 'London' with all the wealth that goes along with that, but to host it in an appropriate area would presumably be impossible, so it'd end up being hosted in some hell hole where half the crowd got stabbed / their car broken in to and the pot holes and traffic calming would be tearing off front wings faster than you can say sausage kerb hehe

Leo31291

107 posts

91 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
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We don't need another street track thanks. Silverstone is expensive yes but the atmosphere is brilliant and I thoroughly enjoy going. I'm a little bemused to the naysayers and how Silverstone could be struggling.

sparta6

3,689 posts

99 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
quotequote all
Vaud said:
It won't be a true "London race" with all of the landmarks, a la Monaco - it would be a East London thing with probably a lot of festival/music, etc attached.

Silverstone is massively over rated in my view, and I've been both as a regular spectator and as a guest of a team with full paddock/pit access.

I'd rather spend my money on going to the Dutch, Belgian or Italian GP.
Agree

Agree

Agree

At least they wouldn't be in Canning Town, extra security required for all those sets of wheels.

Vaud

50,194 posts

154 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
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Leo31291 said:
We don't need another street track thanks. Silverstone is expensive yes but the atmosphere is brilliant and I thoroughly enjoy going. I'm a little bemused to the naysayers and how Silverstone could be struggling.
I tried Silverstone twice, both in grandstands and as a paddock guest. The facilities are fine, but value for money is shocking compared to say, Monza where the food is better, the crowd friendlier (in my view) and you can combine with a few days in Milan or the lakes.

belleair302

6,833 posts

206 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
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This is surely all about the owner of F1 trying to generate more money. They being 'Americans' see city centre GPs as the future of racing in F1 as it combines hotels, no issues about parking, a captive audience and huge financial assistance from governments to pay the fees. I just dont see how London will pay for this, nor where it will be held. There are NOT enough rooms in the docklands for guests, sponsors, teams and fans to stay or entertain / eat at. A dream for some.

If Miami, NY, Las Vegas and numerous other US cities dont want a race why do they think London wants one. F1 as the pinnacle of racing (not any more) needs purpose built circuits not processional streets with slow corners and processional racing. Formula E maybe but not F1. Brands Hatch is the track but the council wont allow this sadly as an F1 circuit.

rscott

14,681 posts

190 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
quotequote all
SeeFive said:
sgtBerbatov said:
People moaning about the price of it have to remember that Silverstone receives no Government backing, whereas other tracks do.

You'd also have to remember that it'd be incredibly expensive to go and see an F1 race in London. Everything would be inflated. Anyone parking at Wembley can vouch for this. And at the baseball during the weekend the cheapest ticket was £60, when in America the cheapest ticket is between $10-$15.

London would kill off the popularity of a British GP in my opinion, let alone Silverstone.

Could we not bring the F1 back to Aintree? Make it a double header with the Grand National?
Yeah, with jockeys in the cars and drivers on the horses. Sounds like fun.
Bring back the ride & drive competitions - round the course on horseback, then hop off & into the car for a lap of the track...

Lannister902

1,539 posts

102 months

Tuesday 2nd July 2019
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God I hope it doesn't happen. The last thing F1 needs is another street race/procession.