Coulthard: Money men key to Silverstone fate

David Coulthard believes the only chance of there being no British Grand Prix in the future will be for commercial reasons.

The Silverstone event has long been a topic for debate, not least due to Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone’s criticisms in the past.

Although access has vastly improved with an upgraded road network around the Northamptonshire venue, facilities – in many people’s eyes – leave a lot to be desired.

The British Racing Drivers’ Club, who own the circuit, are hoping a £25m (€37m) masterplan will be approved at an EGM at the end of the month.

In turn, that will hopefully lead to a new contract to host the race once the present one expires in 2009.

Coulthard, who is a member of the BRDC, believes Silverstone is fine when compared to other tracks currently on the calendar.

“I personally don’t see anything wrong with the Silverstone circuit and facilities,” he said.

“How changing the press room, providing you with leather-clad seats and better tea and coffee-making facilities, makes for a better grand prix is beyond me.

“We race in Brazil, Canada and lots of places that are real dumps in comparison to Silverstone.

“But we go there and say ’oh, it’s fantastic to be in Montreal’ when there are things that ensure that’s not the case.

“Yet it’s not in fear of being dropped from the calendar is it? Let’s just hope the British Grand Prix continues. If it doesn’t then it will be for commercial reasons.”

Although the British Grand Prix has been on the calendar since the first world championship in 1950, Coulthard knows sentimentality cuts no ice with Ecclestone.

“Of course, I’d like to not see a calendar without the British Grand Prix on it, but I can imagine it,” added Coulthard.

“In this business, anything is possible, especially with all the pressures for people to buy into the Formula One franchise.

“But Bernie is running a business, and what part does emotion play in business.”

As a two-time winner – 1999 and 2000 – the British Grand Prix will always have a special place in Coulthard’s heart.

“Those two victories are right up there because I grew up a fan of the sport - I’m still a fan of the sport,” he insisted.

“As a young lad going to Silverstone, if someone had said to me ’you’re going to win the British GP one day’, I’d have been amazed. So to win it twice has been fantastic, and I will remember it for the rest of my life.”

But they will not be his most memorable moments as he added: “That was in 1995.

“I was going into Stowe corner, which was a 90-degree right-hander at the time and I passed [Jean] Alesi to take the lead. I could hear the crowd cheering above the noise of the engines, which was incredible.

“I’d never heard that in my life before, and have never heard it again since.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t win the race – I was second – because the electronics failed and I had a 10-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane.”