F1 News: New hope for British GP as UK PM asks for F1 to be exempt from quarantine rules

As previously reported, a 14-day quarantine for arrivals in the UK is due to come into force on 8 June, with a list of exemptions that are considered essential, such as truck drivers and anyone directly connected to efforts to beat COVID-19.

People involved with international sporting competitions have not been included, despite parallel efforts by the government to encourage sport to restart in the UK.

A story in The Times on Monday evening said PM Boris Johnson is keen to help the two planned Silverstone races take place, and has kickstarted the process.

A source has confirmed that the subject was discussed in a cabinet meeting last week.

In essence, the justification is to support the British motor sport industry, with F1 having made clear to its government contacts the importance of holding the races and keeping the 2020 world championship alive.

Sources have suggested that the government was concerned about facing pressure from other businesses or industries that do not receive exemptions.

However, the door has been left open to relax the quarantine with further special case exemptions when the rules are reviewed after three weeks, which would be around 29 June.

As well as allowing Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Alpha Tauri and all continental support race competitors into the country for the British races, the exemption would make it much easier for the UK teams to travel to and from other races.

An F1 spokesman told Autosport that hopes remain high that a solution will be found.

"We are working constructively with government on our safe restart to the season, and those discussions are ongoing," he said.

Although F1 has remained optimistic that racing personnel will eventually be included, the late June deadline has made it difficult to commit to the planned Silverstone dates of 26 July and 2 August, because of the lack of lead time, which is why Hungary and Germany are now being considered for those dates.

Early confirmation of an exemption could allow the original dates to be retained by Silverstone after all. However, circuit boss Stuart Pringle says the option remains to run the British races later in August.