F1: Silverstone double-header set for first two August weekends

Formula 1 has reserved the first two weekends in August for racing at Silverstone amid positive noises earlier this week from the UK government to allow Formula 1 racing to happen in the UK.

This comes after the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told his ministers to ‘help make the races happen’ which has given F1 and Silverstone the confidence the reserve August 2 and 9 as dates for British GP’s this year.

Back-to-back Silverstone races were penciled in for July 26 and August 2 in the previous version.

But following the announcement that a 14-day quarantine will be imposed on all arrivals into the UK from June 8, put racing in the UK in doubt.

Formula 1 told The Standard of the potential British Grand Prix double header:

“We are working constructively with Government on our safe restart to the season, and those discussions are ongoing.”

Boris Johnson, to The Standard

Quarantine restrictions imposed by the UK government will be reviewed after a three week period, so theoretically they could be lifted.

But F1 will be looking for a more concrete proposal from the UK government to guarantee the passage of people into the UK in time for the Grand Prix.

Silverstone Boss Stuart Pringle is confident that a solution can be found so that racing can restart.

“We’ve got our original dates that we’ve been holding and talking around in mid-to-late July but actually we’ve got a degree of flexibility through August as well.

“I don’t think that finding a date for Formula 1 is going to be a problem or indeed two dates. What we need is the green light for Government, and that will take time.”

Stuart Pringle – Silverstone Managing Director

So after a promise by the Prime Minister, urging ministers to make the races happen should give hope to everyone that before too long there will be real-world F1 action once again.