Mosley: F1 Newcomers Unlikely to Oust Silverstone

Formula One can expect two or three new races in 2004 but Britain's slot on the calendar looks safe providing the Grand Prix is properly run, says FIA president Max Mosley.

"It's for Bernie (Ecclestone) to make the proposal but I think it's highly probable that there will be at least two new races in 2004," the head of the International Automobile Federation said at the weekend.

China is likely to be one, with an official in Shanghai saying on Monday that an agreement had been reached to stage a race in that city from 2004 to 2010. The calendar is set to remain at 17 races and some European Grands Prix face the axe but Mosley said Silverstone should not be at risk.

"I think the British Grand Prix is very much one of the traditional races and provided it is properly run and properly sited, then there's no realistic chance that it will be lost," he said before Sunday's race.

The former World War Two airfield hosted the first Formula One race in 1950 and Britain shares with Italy the honour of being the only country to have hosted a race in every Championship year.

But doubts surrounded Silverstone's place on the calendar when FIA sources warned last year that it could be dropped unless action was taken to resolve the traffic congestion that has plagued the circuit for decades.

This year's race was confirmed only when promoters Octagon Motorsports, who have spent millions on new roads and carparks, paid the FIA a $5 million bond as a guarantee. Octagon chief executive Rob Bain said on Sunday that the circuit had passed the 'acid test' and Mosley said he was impressed by the improvements.

But Formula One supremo Ecclestone, a Briton like the FIA head, was unconvinced: "It's a country fair masquerading as a world event," British newspapers quoted him as saying. "If our contract with them was up next year, I wouldn't be too excited about keeping it."

Brawn Praise

Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn, a Briton who had the satisfaction of seeing his cars finish first and second on Sunday, said Silverstone deserved its place.

"I would hate to see Silverstone disappear off the schedule," he said. "I very much hope it doesn't.

"I think they've made a fantastic effort, if you look at the work that's been done. It's also a very good racetrack, one where you can clearly overtake, and maybe they need a bit of encouragement to finish it off."

The circuit is due for a major redevelopment, with the infield buildings to be replaced by a new facility.

"By May next year we'll have a fabulous new facility, a fabulous new pit and paddock and media centre, one that ranks alongside every other circuit on the Formula One calendar," commented Bain.

Former World Champion Jackie Stewart warned last week that Britain could not afford to lose a race of vital importance to the British motorsport industry.

"The biggest threat is that there are a great many countries in the world who want to have a Grand Prix, and have the money to spend on it and don't mind spending that," he said.

"There are only 17 Grands Prix in one year. If four get in, four must come out. The weaker ones will no longer be there. We've got to ensure that Britain is not one of those weak ones."

Despite global economic gloom and a glaring divide between the rich and poor teams, with some such as Arrows and Minardi close to the brink of financial failure, plenty of countries are seeking to host Grands Prix.

Candidates include a Middle East country such as Bahrain or Dubai, Egypt, Turkey and India.

Russia had been talked about as early as 2003 but work on a new circuit outside Moscow has yet to begin and the signing of a contract was put on hold last April.