Bernie Ecclestone has revealed he attempted to buy Silverstone as he commented on the future of the British Grand Prix.
The former Formula 1 boss had many a run in with the Northamptonshire circuit during his time in charge, often risking to cancel the race without improvements being made to the facilities.
In 2009, however, they would come and Ecclestone rewarded the track with a 17-year contract for the British GP only for a release clause to be exercised and now the possibility awaits of next year’s event being the last at Silverstone.
“It would be nice to have one,” he told Autosport when asked about the future.
“They could do a deal there, but I think they’ll have to come up with some sort of an idea of sharing the losses or profits, or whatever.
“They must be comfortable, Silverstone. I asked them if they wanted to sell because I would have bought it, and they didn’t want to sell. They were not interested,” Ecclestone continued.
“We could have had the race, obviously. Anyway, they don’t want to sell, so they’re comfortable.
“They’re not desperate, but they’ve got to have an F1 race.”
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Should Silverstone not make a deal, current F1 owners Liberty Media have eyes on a London street race but Ecclestone immediately shot down the idea based on his own experience.
“We looked at it. We looked at the whole thing, about eight or 10 years ago,” he said. “It’s too complicated, with too many restrictions.
“I had the whole thing laid out for the centre of London, past Buckingham Palace, everything was done.
“During the meetings, I tried to explain to the City of Westminster and the mayor at the time that we’ve got to find the money to do this. In the end, let’s see how much money you’re prepared to put in.
“Between the two people that made a difference, it was £3million.
“I said, ‘That will probably cover the cost of the mineral water for the hundreds of meetings we’ll have to have. So I think we’ll forget that idea’.”
