British GP winner defends Silverstone

The owners of the Silverstone track - which has been given a 2001 Grand Prix date providing certain work is carried out - refused to get drawn into a public slanging match, but Coulthard, who has won the British Grand Prix for the last two years, leapt to its defence.

"I do not know what the president's offices are like. Perhaps from that point of view it doesn't come up to scratch," he said. "From a drivers' point of view, Silverstone is a very challenging circuit.

"And as for the money they have invested in the circuit and the money they invest in the sport then I think they have done a fantastic job. Maybe there was a problem with the mud this year, but that was an act of God rather than anything else."

According to the president of the FIA, the sport's world governing body, the track is the least impressive of all the venues for the world championship and "shaming" to Britain.