F1 talks on London Grand Prix reported as new street circuit plans revealed

F1

Floating grandstands planned for waterside East London Grand Prix in proposals that could see the first F1 race as early as 2026

London Grand Prix render

London GP proposals are centred on Royal Docks

Dar / LDN Collective

Author

Dominic Tobin

New proposals for a London Grand Prix have been revealed by planners who say that they have been in touch with Formula 1 and that the first race could be held as early as 2026.

In the latest attempt to bring F1 to the capital, consultants working on the redevelopment of East London’s Royal Docks have included a 3.6 mile Montreal-style circuit into their plans. The 22-corner track is dominated by long straights and chicanes, with cars predicted to run alongside historic docks and City Airport at an average speed of 127mph.

Previous bids to bring grand prix racing to central London have largely foundered on the impracticality of closing busy streets and cramming crowds into its centuries-old layout.

“We know that Formula 1 are interested in hosting a grand prix here”

The new proposals from design consultants Dar and the LDN collective are “F1 enabled” from the design stage, with elements that include a “linear park”, featuring decking that can be removed to reveal a race track below. Floating grandstands are proposed for the waterfront and four stations on the DLR network would serve the circuit directly. Capacity for 95,000 is anticipated.

A grand prix forms part of a plan for the £250m redevelopment of the Royal Docks, which involve doubling the width of the 10m-wide, 1.25 mile-long embankment, and adding cycle lanes, seating and exercise areas for most of the year. These would sit above the track surface, which is intended to be uncovered, used and then re-covered in the space of a fortnight.

Floating modules would be installed on the water. These would include revenue-generating hotels and restaurants, alongside parks and a library and could be reconfigured or swapped with grandstands, foodstalls and entertainment venues over the race weekend.

East London Grand Prix circuit diagram

F1 circuit proposal for East London Grand Prix

Dar / LDN Collective

It is thought that F1 would be open to the idea of hosting a London race in addition to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, which currently has a race contract to 2024.

Commercial rights owners Liberty Media is looking to continue F1’s growth by attracting a broader audience with more races like this year’s Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend, where racing takes place alongside entertainment in an easily-accessible location.

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The Docklands area of East London already hosts Formula E on a 1.4 mile circuit that runs through the ExCel exhibition building and into the parking area around it.

Under the F1 proposals, the pitlane would be built at ExCel alongside a waterfront start/finish straight. Assuming a clockwise direction, cars would then head west, joining closed public roads alongside the Thames cable car station before rounding a large hairpin and accelerating east on the opposite side of ExCel.

A chicane leads onto the Royal Albert Way and another high-speed section leading up to the roundabout over Beckton Park DLR station, where the track circles right, over what is now disused industrial land, and back onto the waterfront for a fast run along the water, broken by another chicane.

“We know that Formula 1 are interested in hosting a grand prix here and we have designed a track that meets all of their requirements and regulations,” said Max Farrell, CEO of the LDN Collective project design consultancy. “By extending the promenade we are creating a flexible eventscape and by creating floating commercial uses we are making the proposal financially viable and deliverable, without the taxpayer footing the bill.”

East London Royal Docks park and F1 circuit proposal

Waterfront park could be dismantled for a fortnight each year to reveal the racing circuit

Dar / LDN Collective

Planners have spoken to Liberty Media, which owns F1’s commercial rights, according to The Times. Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, has previously backed plans for a grand prix in London and is also pushing for redevelopment in the Royal Docks area. City Hall is aware of the plans.

The redevelopment is currently unfunded, although discussions with investors are ongoing and a planning application has been mooted within the next year.

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“It’s apparent for anyone visiting the Royal Docks that the water is underutilised, but has huge un-tapped potential, said Dan Horner, Director of Urban Design at Dar. “We have approached this large, contained and clean body of water as a platform which can be reconfigured using floating modules, creating a new family orientated leisure and events destination.

“Although floating buildings, structures and spaces are a relatively new concept within the UK, there is a growing number of precedents, notably in Europe, which have been highly successful and cost effective. We believe this is an exciting and viable solution for activating the Dock, making it a world class destination.”

The idea of a London Grand Prix in the East has developed in the past two years after repeated proposals to host Formula 1 in a more central location failed.

Despite encouragement from the likes of Bernie Ecclestone for a route that included Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square, the scale of disruption meant that plans never got off the ground

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