Latest London GP talk continues an irritating F1 ‘tradition’

Talk of a possible London Grand Prix is ​​never far away in Formula 1 as the latest rumors of a race in London’s Docklands are heard.

No proposal was made to F1 and no talks took place, perpetuating an annoying ‘tradition’ last flared up in the run-up to the 2021 British Grand Prix. Edd Straw explained at the time why the prospect of a London GP is so unlikely and his words still stand according to the latest rumours.

Speculations about a London Grand Prix regularly flare up in the run-up to the British Grand Prix. It’s a boring tradition that inspires false hope and is part of the political games both within Formula 1 and in the UK as a whole.

Whether as an alternative venue for the British Grand Prix, which was a popular proposition at times when Silverstone’s contract was under discussion, or as a London-branded race in its own right, it understandably has great appeal. That’s one of the reasons it’s such a headline-grabbing concept.

It is true that it fits perfectly with Liberty Media’s desire to enrich its calendar with prestigious events in the city center. It is therefore only natural that F1 should be open to dialogue about conducting a race and Liberty’s tenacity to potentially find a way to facilitate such a race should not be discounted.

But at the same time we also know that it won’t sink into the money it takes to run a race like this because that’s not in the business model. Although it is at least difficult to see Stefano Domenicali as Bernie Ecclestone did back in 2012 when he suggested “maybe we would do the front and raise the money for it” as part of the ongoing political games surrounding the British GP .

Every city should at least be open to hosting such an event, which is why London Mayor Sadiq Khan recently told The Evening Standard talks are ongoing with F1 – sparking the latest stories.

“We’re talking to Formula 1 and they’re really open-minded,” said Khan. “The reality is that the reigning world champion is British. Lewis Hamilton is a credit to our nation and the sport and it would be great to have a Grand Prix in the capital, Silverstone and London on the calendar.

“I think next year would be too early but I’ve been really impressed with those in Formula 1 and I want to get it as soon as possible.”

Of course, London’s Mayor should explore the possibility of such an event. In fact, Khan’s predecessor in the role – a certain Boris Johnson – also occasionally made positive noises about the idea. F1 racing has a positive economic effect and it is not good policy to forcefully rule out an idea that would be popular, even if there is no serious will to implement it.

It is therefore not in the interests of F1 or London to publicly sideline the idea and it is logical to keep a dialogue open. But the reality is that there are serious financial, political and logistical hurdles that would need to be cleared to make a GP in London possible. And while both sides will agree it’s a good idea, the big issue is the practicality of the race.

Think of the London GP and you inevitably have the image of Hamilton and Max Verstappen battling for the lead across Parliament Square or Buckingham Palace. Indeed, that was the premise behind the attention-grabbing proposal for the Santander Grand Prix in London.

Of course, that wasn’t a serious idea, but an advertising measure – albeit at least based on a professional concept study. It’s no coincidence that it was released just before the 2012 British GP, which was sponsored by Santander, another example of the London GP popping up as part of the hustle and bustle surrounding the Silverstone race.

This Santander idea ticked all the boxes, following a route that seems logical enough for a London sightseeing bus. But the idea of ​​closing key areas of London for a grand prix would face stiff – and probably insurmountable – opposition.

Just think of the objections that led to the facedown of Formula E’s Battersea E-Prix, which has only been run twice in a less elite field. And that in a category known for producing very little noise!

For a GP in London, it would not only be a question of the disruption and costs caused, but also the impact on the environment – ​​and whether a hugely popular tourist city really needs an event like this.

And that assumes that the money was there for it. Creating an on-road grand prix track is not a cheap task and would require significant expenditure just to change simple aspects like the road fixtures before you even start thinking about barrier costs and broader logistics.

So there are huge obstacles to a Central London Grand Prix that everyone has in mind when you think about it. It’s been a popular dream in the 21st century, certainly since the 2004 street demo that ran between Piccadilly Circus and Regent Street and featured the likes of Nigel Mansell.

A more realistic idea is one that doesn’t take place in central London. There have been serious proposals in the past for a London Grand Prix in the Docklands area, where there are far fewer space and logistical problems. This model is at least more realistic.

But sadly it lacks that same appeal because as Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said in 2019: “A London Grand Prix only works if it’s a real London, if it’s at Dagenham it doesn’t really count”.

Proper London, as Horner puts it, is a vanishingly small long shot as an F1 venue. In the future, this cannot be completely ruled out in some changed political and economic landscapes, but at present it would be a miracle if such an event were to occur.

But outside of Proper London, at least it’s easier to spot if you’ve got the cash. It is almost unimaginable that government money would be spent on a race like this, especially given the economic impact of COVID-19. And while F1 likes the idea, their financial contribution would at best help find an independent promoter.

It can be done and there have been candidates in the past – and there still are prospects – but it’s still a challenge to pull it off. Still, if a company or an individual provided the money tomorrow, what might be called a Peripheral London Grand Prix would be quite doable.

If such a promoter can raise the appropriate sums of money, F1 is likely to be open to the idea, although there will be legitimate concerns about its proximity to Silverstone. The two events will compete for fans. So, despite the fact that the British GP is a hugely popular and successful race, is there really an appetite for two races in Britain?

As Khan said, the fact that Lewis Hamilton is at the helm of Formula 1 means it’s hugely popular, but even if a race were to get the green light now, the Mercedes driver could have given up by the time the race took place. And with street racing being very sensitive to changes in the political landscape, even when a London GP gets underway it will by its very nature be subject to the whims of those in control.

Many hurdles still have to be cleared for a London Grand Prix to become a reality. While it can’t be ruled out, especially outside of ‘real London’, there’s a chance this will remain an idea that flares up every few years but never gets anywhere.

Certainly there is no reason to get upset when a politician of any political persuasion makes positive noises about it. When a credible funder comes to terms with money, that’s when we can start taking that idea seriously, rather than seeing it as part of this most predictable of traditions.