London Grand Prix is ‘not realistic’, says F1 boss Stefano Domenicali

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The prospect of a London Grand Prix looks dead in the water with Formula 1 bosses ruling out a race in the capital for the foreseeable future.

Talks had been ongoing about building a giant entertainment sports complex in Docklands to house a second British race on the F1 calendar in the future

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan had provisionally been behind having a London race in east London while team bosses including Toto Wolff and Christian Horner also added their public support to a potential London Grand Prix.

But Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said that London was not on the list of races the sport was currently exploring as it continues to expand its racing calendar.

“In life, I always say never say never but we are not here to sell something that is not realistic,” he told Standard Sport.

“I would say that we already have Silverstone with British support and a unique place. Coming to a city like London would be quite invasive and difficult for the community to manage it.”

A London Grand Prix has long been talked about with the F1 paddock, with former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone first putting forward a race around the city’s most iconic landmarks and, at one stage, offering to stump up his own money to make it a reality.

Despite backing at various stages and repeated fresh attempts to get it off the ground, it has never materialised although there were fresh hopes of a new potential second British race in Docklands following talks by a variety of different partners.

But of that Docklands proposal, Domenicali said: “I wouldn’t go in this direction. When you think of something so prestigious, you need to be in the heart of the city. Otherwise, you devalue it. I don’t think that is realistic to think in the short term that this could happen.”

Despite effectively calling time on a London Grand Prix for the foreseeable future, F1 bosses are still keen for the sport to have a continued foothold in the city.

“I see more of a possibility in the future is to have a fan demonstration within the city but hosting a race in such an incredible city as London I don’t see is possible to happen, at least in the short term,” he said.

Formula 1’s headquarters are based in the heart of London near Piccadilly Circus and, despite shifting away from a potential grand prix in London, the sport’s owners Liberty Media have no plans to relocate from that current base in the city.

F1’s Italian boss said: “London has been part of Formula 1. Formula 1 was born here so I wouldn’t see any other place where you can see the same home town for Formula 1. We’re in the heart of London and we breathe that as part of our DNA.”

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