Nizer

Appears the days of F1 at Silverstone are numbered.

http://m.bbc.com/sport/formula1/40566434

Coochas

That's too bad. There is a lot of F1 history there and it's a great track. It's interesting that the article says Silverstone is the only F1 venue that does not have any government subsidy. They are losing about 4M Pounds each year. One would think that the British government could intervene! It's not that much money.

gbuff

There are a lot of people in the BRDC that have a lot of money--if they really cared they could step up...as you say, Dave, in the grand scheme it ain't that much $$$$$. One donor is all it takes i.e. here in Buffalo, Terry Pegula (owns the Bills/Sabres) is a Penn State alum--he gave $88M to the U to build their hockey rink.

Thanks to our old friend Bernie for that escalator clause that's killing this

Gary

StoogeMoe

I think someone will save it at the last minute. It's too iconic and great of a race track to not have F1 racing there. All the drivers love it too. Heck, even one of the racers could pay for it from part of their salary.

Kein_Ersatz

Bernie could donate

gbuff

Nah, now that he's "retired" he has to watch his pennies

Matt Lane

Yeah, the annually compounded fee escalator signed years ago just won't work in its sunset years. Go figure - maths work after all!

Maybe the original signing counterpart hoped for the best, but clearly in a near nil inflation environment this won't fly, way in excess of the gate's ability to absorb - and the racing has been overall poor so TV rights aren't any better, if they're not worse.

I have confidence Liberty will find a deal - it's not about just Silverstone. All the meaningful historic tracks in Europe (and North America) are in the same boat. If you can barely feed, employ, or mend your own people, there is limited appetite to fund motorsports - and rightly so.

The oligarchs and klepto-dictators can afford a race, but who will care? I believe and hope Liberty understands that.

Cheers

Matt

Nizer

5G's!!

Nizer

Bummed Alonso didn't make Q3...

MSR Racer

Bernie’s fault

Nizer

Yup, but hopefully Liberty sorts in the end.

Meanwhile, did anyone else catch Vettle's comments about going flat in 8th through Maggotts/Becketts? Insane speed. I wish they'd broadcast more radio comm. You can hear how hard the drivers are working.

Coochas

The G's these guys are fighting this year are just insane. There was a transmission from VET during qualifying in which his voice was so calm you would think he was sitting at the dinner table. These guys are amazing.

multi21

Drivers were touching 6 Gs in FP2 dry conditions. Just amazing!! i swear watching the onboard shots these guys were going to slip off track

MSR Racer

ITs flat from Luffield corner to Copse but at copse they down shift one gear and go WOT immediately and stay flat through Maggots.They have to brake for Becketts(Hamilton goes from 8-6) . From the exit from Becketts, they WOT till Stowe.

Nizer

Well that was interesting. Tough break for the Ferraris. Will Alonso ever catch a break?

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2017/07/1...io-highlights/