Hill ready for Ecclestone talks

With Ecclestone having suggested last weekend that he was willing to work with Hill in his new capacity at the BRDC, the former driver believes that the most obvious course of action is to arrange talks with the Formula One supremo to find out exactly what is expected of Silverstone.

"Bernie is always part of the equation," said Hill, when asked about how the BRDC under his guidance were going to approach their relationship with Ecclestone.

"If we, the BRDC, are committed to hosting the Grand Prix, then we have to sit down with FOM (Ecclestone's Formula One Management company) and say, what do you want? What can we do to help the show? Then we'll go and try and do that."

Hill insists, however, that the BRDC should not feel that they need to be rushed into finalizing a deal. He believes it will be better to take a more considered approach to the situation - especially because the British GP is currently guaranteed until 2009.

"I think it's important for us to differentiate between the Grand Prix and a threat to the Grand Prix," he explained. "It is there until 2009, it is going to happen.

"The medium term future is secure - but it's what happens after that.  The way things go in F1, everything needs to get better all of the time, and we're aware of that."

Part of Hill's plans for the future include improved communication with BRDC members to map out exactly what Silverstone needs to do in the future, with plans for a redevelopment by St. Modwen having been recently rejected.

"There was a proposal which could have provided the commitment to do all things necessary to guarantee the GP," explained Hill. "But that was unacceptable to the vast majority of the BDRC members.

"I think that we now need to conduct a very good campaign of communication with the members. It's all very well saying no, but something has to done, which is acceptable. That's going to take place in a longer period of time, in a year or two."

Ecclestone told the BBC at the weekend that he was optimistic he would be able to agree a battle plan with Hill about a revamp of Silverstone.

"We'll try and change it but it has not changed yet. I can deal with Damon easy - we'll see what happens," he said. "They have got a new board of people now so maybe they will do something."