British Grand Prix may be heading to GERMANY after F1 bosses tell Boris Johnson it will be moved elsewhere if it gets cancelled or if sport is denied exemption from 14-day quarantine on travelers into the UK
- F1 bosses have been in discussions with the highest levels of the UK Government
- They want an exemption over 14-day quarantine on travelers arriving in the UK
Formula One have upped the battle to save the British Grand Prix by telling Boris Johnson that if it is cancelled the race will go to Germany.
F1 bosses continued to talk to the highest levels of Government on Tuesday in the hope of brokering an 11th-hour agreement to win the sport an exemption over controversial plans to impose a 14-day quarantine period on travellers arriving in the UK.
The Prime Minister is being informed of developments and will make the final call.
If the exemption is not forthcoming, the two races planned for Silverstone in July and August — the British GP and a second round to make up for time lost to coronavirus — will move to Hockenheim in Germany’s Rhine Valley.
An F1 spokesman said: ‘Quarantine would make it impossible to have a British Grand Prix this year. We would be travelling back to the UK on F1-only aircraft and all staff would be tested, making quarantine totally unnecessary.’
Sportsmail understands talks between F1 and Hockenheim are at an advanced stage, with a source saying: ‘It is basically a matter of turning the key in the gates.’
Losing the British Grand Prix to a venue that was not even slated on the original calendar would be a massive blow to the prestige of British sport.
Silverstone staged the first F1 race, won by Giuseppe Farina in 1950, and has held a grand prix in all of the world championship’s 70-year history. A decision is expected in the next 36 hours.
