British GP warning from Mosley

His warning appeared to be aimed at the current venue for the British Grand Prix and rivals Brands Hatch and Donington, which could stage the race from 2002.

The FIA president and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone have waged a long-running war to get Silverstone to improve the circuit, the parking and the access.

In the chaos over who exactly will stage the British GP in 2002, Mosley hinted that there might be no race at all if the standard of the facilities is not up to it - a warning to the two rival circuits, as well as Silverstone, not to expect the event to fall into their laps.

Brands Hatch Leisure has the contract for the race from 2002, but their re-building programme has been sent to a lengthy public inquiry and Donington, which is the best alternative, needs extensive construction work too.

As Mosley and Ecclestone lauded the facilities of the new £35 million Indianapolis circuit on Friday just before cars started running for the first time, they laid into the British Grand Prix venue which is battling to keep the race even though a contract has been awarded to rival Brands Hatch in 2002.

"It certainly wouldn't hurt in the United Kingdom if we had a facility up to the same standard as this one here," Mosley said.

"It is intensely embarrassing when people visit the UK and they talk about the Grand Prix and they say 'we're going up to your Silverstone circuit to have a look'. And we have to say 'no, don't do that', and we give them a list of other places to look at.

"We hope that before long there will be a facility of world standard in the United Kingdom.

"If there isn't then the future of the British Grand Prix as a round of the world championship must be very much in question.

"There will always be tracks which are less than perfect, but the really bad thing about Silverstone is that people can't get in and out in a reasonable time. It is probably the worst circuit in the world from that point of view.

"That really is unacceptable. It damages the whole image of Formula 1. There are no proper roads into Silverstone, but they are talking about making one in the future.

"The Olympic Games would not be held somewhere like that."

He denied the ongoing campaign means the British race could be the first for the chop if, as planned, the calendar is cut from 17 races to 16 in 2002.

"The British GP will be decided on its merits. We are pretty committed to 17 races in 2001, but I am sure we will go back to 16 in 2002. Nobody knows who is going to get the chop.

"I reckon by 2002 we will have a proper circuit in the UK. Whether it's Silverstone, Donington Park or Brands Hatch is not for us to say."