Bernie reacts in Silverstone row

Stewart yesterday accused Ecclestone's company, Formula One Management, of backtracking over assurances made to the BRDC for Silverstone to keep the race for 2005 and 06, in what he termed Eccletsone's "latest threat to the British Grand Prix". But Ecclestone has refuted this and suggested that the BRDC is running out of time to find a promoter for next year's race after Interpublic bought its way out of the contract in April.

"I feel I must reply to Sir Jackie Stewart's latest statement concerning what he has decided to call my latest threats," said Ecclestone in an official statement from the FOM. "First of all, I have never threatened either Sir Jackie or the BRDC - I have merely stated facts.

"On this occasion he would seem to be referring to the deadline by which we require a promoter to make a commitment for a Formula One event at Silverstone in 2005. Ordinarily, FOA as the commercial rightsholder would have proposed to the FIA a calendar of races for the 2005 FIA Formula One World Championship season by June of this year, which means that binding contracts with all promoters should be in place by now.

"This year, as we do not yet have an agreement with anybody to stage a British Grand Prix, in order to help the BRDC, I have asked the FIA to wait until its World Motor Sport Council meets in October 2004 when I will make our calendar proposal. If the BRDC and/or Sir Jackie carry out what they have said they can do, a Formula 1 event will take place at Silverstone in 2005."

In recent days it has become clear Silverstone faces a threat of a different kind now that a London street circuit has emerged as a potential grand prix venue. The successful Regent Street parade drew up to half a million spectators on Tuesday, and a statement from London mayor Ken Livingstone confirming the capital has made an offer to Ecclestone. But Stewart questioned the burden of such an event on the British taxpayer.

"As for Sir Jackie's remarks about the financial viability of staging a Formula One event in London," said Ecclestone. "I am quite sure if this were to happen, the promoter would not need any advice from Sir Jackie.

"He should look carefully into the cost of staging an event at Silverstone and not worry about how other events are financed. I am quite sure that if the British Government cannot put any finance into Silverstone, they would adopt the same policy for other events."