Losing British GP would damage F1, say McLaren
MCLAREN team boss Martin Whitmarsh has pleaded with Formula One chiefs to save the British Grand Prix for the good of the sport.
The race is in doubt after Donington Park, which was due to stage it from next year, failed to raise the funding necessary to host the event. Silverstone, which has been its home since 1987, is in talks to step in, but negotiations are ongoing over the cost of the deal.
Whitmarsh admits the uncertainty concerns him but insists he and his counterparts at rival teams will do all they can to preserve the British date in the calendar.
“To lose the British Grand Prix would be massively damaging to the sport,” he said.
“Any team in F1 knows the importance of the British Grand Prix – it’s about the quality of the fan base that you experience. I am sure that McLaren, all the teams and F1 teams’ association Fota will do everything it can to preserve a British Grand Prix in the calendar.”