Silverstone boss says venue could host multiple F1 races

Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle says the British track is open to the possibility of staging multiple F1 races this year to help the sport build its 2020 season.

Silverstone confirmed earlier this week that it had set itself an April 30 deadline to decide whether to go ahead or not with this year's British Grand Prix at its scheduled date of July 17-19.

So far, F1 has postponed or cancelled eight rounds of the world championship, and the next race on the schedule, the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, is also expected to be called off.

Sporting events around the world planned for next summer continue to be cancelled amid the coronavirus, with Wimbledon the latest meeting to get the axe.

• Silverstone confirms end of April deadline for British GP

The current situation does not bode well for Britain's showcase F1 event, but Pringle explained to Sky Sports News why he's keeping the race on the calendar for a few more weeks.

"There are two reasons. Number one is that Silverstone is one round in a world championship and our colleagues at Formula 1 are trying incredibly hard to piece together a season that will start much later," Pringle told reporter Craig Slater.

"There have been a number of postponements and one cancellation and they are trying to reknit that calendar together.

"We are one element of that and it's important that Formula 1 get the chance to try and get a world championship season away. We can give them the time we need to do that.

"That is also because we're a fixed venue. We're not like a street circuit, we've got fixed set-up and infrastructure and we've also got an incredibly experienced team, we know what we're doing, so we can allow ourselves the month of April to make a decision which is sufficient for Formula 1 I hope to get their plans together."

Silverstone Circuit boss Stuart Pringle

F1 chief executive Chase Carey said last week that the sport was hopeful of putting together a schedule of at least 15 races.

However, such a prospect would likely require some creative organization in terms of establishing a proper calendar, and a fair amount of compression in the latter part of the summer once the situation allows teams to go racing.

Silverstone's proximity to the F1 community could potentially allow the venue to host multiple races to help F1 reach its 15-race tally, an idea Pringle is willing to entertain.

"All I've done is say to Formula 1 we are willing to work with them in any way, shape or form that they think is in the best interests of the championship," Pringle said.

"The majority of the teams are within a stone's throw of the circuit, so operationally it would be pretty straightforward.

"We've got the fixed infrastructure, the staff could go home to their own beds of an evening in large parts, so if that's how we can help then I'd be delighted to do that."

As a means of spicing up the show in the event of Silverstone hosting a second round of the F1 world championship, Pringle said he was open to running the race on a reverse layout!

"It's not such a silly thought," Pringle said, dead serious about the unusual prospect.

"We're not licensed to run the other way, but these are extraordinary times, and I guess that extraordinary decisions are being made.

"Nothing's off the table, but equally, let's see what the next four weeks look like.

"It's difficult for Formula 1, they're not just looking at what's going on in Great Britain, they're looking at what's going on around the world and how their travel arrangements have to fit in.

"It's perhaps not such a crazy question."

Would they call it the Enotsrevlis GP? Wait and see...

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter