McLaren boss Zak Brown urges F1 owners to buy Silverstone and safeguard British GP
The American businessman wants to ensure Formula One remains at the Northamptonshire circuit.
McLaren executive Zak Brown believes Formula One owners Liberty Media should buy Silverstone to prevent the circuit losing the British Grand Prix.
Widespread reports have started to surface suggesting Silverstone will exercise an option to cut short its contract to host the British showpiece event after the 2019 race.
The escalating price of hosting the grand prix is likely to be the main cause of such action and speculation is rife that an announcement will come before next weekend’s British Grand Prix.
Liberty purchased F1 in January but has said it is unable to renegotiate existing contracts and therefore is unable to offer Silverstone’s current owners, the British Racing Drivers’ Club, a more attractive deal.
But Brown reckons there is one way to keep the British Grand Prix at the Northamptonshire circuit, which has played host to the race since 1987, for at least the duration of the current deal which is not due to expire for a decade.
“My view is Liberty should buy Silverstone,” he said. “I think they should buy it and much like the NFL…they own their Super Bowl. I have voiced my views on that (to Liberty).
“They listen and they will be quick to tell you if they disagree and they didn’t disagree with the logic. But I wouldn’t want to put words in their mouths that that means they are going out and buying it now because I have no idea.
“The nice thing about Liberty is that you can share your views and they take them on board and you see them register. They’ve got a lot of stuff going on so it’s easy for me to say just go and buy it.”
