F1: British race is safe - Mosley
Motorsports boss Max Mosley has revealed the British Formula One GP is not under threat by the proposed race in Moscow, but revealed another European race could be ditched to make way for the Russian event.
Mosley, president of motorsports world governing body FIA, confirmed that Moscow would enter the race calendar in 2004 but told BBC News 24’s Hard Talk programme, in an interview screened this evening, that Britain would not pay the ultimate price for the inclusion of the new race.
Mosley refused to reveal which race would give way but stated the British GP was safe from the axe, instead turning the spotlight of an unnamed European round.
Asked which round it would be, he replied: ‘‘Probably one of the European races but it’s more than my life’s worth to say so. Not Britain.’’
With the British government doing their bit to help ease traffic problems around Silverstone and Octagon Motorsports improving car parking facilities the British GP looked safe, according to Mosley.
Not even the proposed banning of tobacco advertising and sponsorship by 2006, something the sport was working towards together with the World Health Organisation, would threaten the sport in Britain.
‘‘There has been no tobacco sponsorship on cars and drivers in the British GP for 20 years,’’ said Mosley.
‘‘The only tobacco advertising at the British GP has been four advertising hoardings.’’
Mosley pointed to teams like Williams-BMW and Jordan who had replaced tobacco sponsors with other companies.
Williams had replaced Rothmans with Compaq and Jordan were doing the same with Benson & Hedges and DHL, said Mosley.
