Button defends Silverstone

Silverstone's owners the British Racing Drivers' Club has offered to act as promoter for the event for the next three years in a bid to save the race and are waiting on an answer from Ecclestone in the next few days.

Button himself has said it is unbelievable that the race's place on the 2005 schedule is in doubt - and has hit back at the constant criticisms that the venue faces.

"It would be the strangest feeling for me not having a home grand prix and I don't really know what it will do for British motorsport not having a race," he said at Monza on Thursday.

"I think it is a fantastic circuit and has had some great racing over the years. You cannot say the crowd are not enjoying it - the crowds there are huge for the British GP. It is very strange and I don't understand it."

The BRDC's offer to Ecclestone is understood to leave the club with no profit from its running of the event and expose it to the possibility of actually losing money.

BRDC president Jackie Stewart told Autosport.com earlier this week that he hoped Ecclestone would respect the efforts made to find a race promoter and give the thumbs up to its plans. He also admitted that the BRDC could not afford to host the race 'at any cost'.

Ecclestone has made it clear that a promoter has to be found before September 30 or the race will be off the calendar.