Brawn frustrated by Silverstone talks deadlock

The status regarding Silverstone's position as the host of the British Grand Prix beyond 2019 is rapidly becoming Formula 1's version of Brexit, with protracted talks apparently yielding little in the way of progress.

F1's director of motorsports Ross Brawn has admitted that he's becoming frustrated by the inability of Liberty Media and the British Racing Drivers' Club to reach an agreement that will safeguard the event on the calendar.

Silverstone activated a break clause in their contract in 2017 to terminate the agreement after this year's race, due to the escalating costs involved in hosting the Grand Prix. Despite initial hopes that a new deal could be swiftly agreed, negotiations are still ongoing.

"We want to find a solution with Silverstone," Brawn insisted. "But we are differing in our views. We're not far apart, it's frustrating that we can't find a solution."

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Brawn said he didn't want there to be any doubt about Liberty's desire to keep the historic event on the F1 itinerary for many years to come, although it might mean a change of venue.

"We are determined to make sure we keep a British Grand Prix, and hopefully at Silverstone," Brawn said. "I don't think it will be the final British Grand Prix.

"Whether that's at Silverstone or not is another matter," he added. "Racing in the UK is important to us and obviously Silverstone has been the home of the British Grand Prix for the last few years.

"But most of us here can remember it being held at Brands Hatch and it didn't seem that strange that we had a race at Brands Hatch one year and Silverstone the next."

The British race is one of a number of F1's tentpole events under threat of disappearing from the line-up due to contract disputes, but Brawn said that there was nothing unusual in this.

"We have to give it perspective. A lot of races have renewed and there is a constant churn going on. They're not all aligned.

"But it's true we've got a group of races which are important to Formula 1. They are part of the history of F1, so we wouldn't want to lose them without a fight.

"We will try and find solutions. But promoters' circumstances change, and you can't always accommodate those changes.

"We're trying to accommodate, but we also have to be fair to the other promoters," he explained. "I think there'll be solutions, but we'll all have to work hard to find them."

A road race on the streets of London had been suggested as an alternative to a traditional race track setting. However Brawn feels this is unlikely because of logistical problems and the disruption it would cause to one of the busiest cities in the world.

"I don't think it's feasible to have a London race in the middle of London, unfortunately," he said. "The chaos and impact it would have would be too severe.

"But on the periphery of London there are a number of areas that could work.

"I don't see it as it would necessarily replace the British GP, it would be the London GP," he suggested. "London would be a different race than the British GP. It is a city race. There is a place for both."

Formula E last week announced that it would be returning to the city, with a street track based in the Docklands area around the ExCeL arena.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Silverstone is investing in more resurfacing work before the 2019 F1 and MotoGP events.

It was previously resurfaced by Aggregate Industries before the 2018 season, but heavy rainfall led to last year's MotoGP race being cancelled.

The latest "essential track maintenance" will be undertaken in June, according to a statement from Silverstone Circuits Limited.

It will be carried out after the Blancpain GT Series and British GT races in May and June respectively, and before July's F1 British Grand Prix.

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