Combined with a boom in F1’s audience, Silverstone has seen record crowds and expanded its capacity — although high demand did lead to a failure of its online ticketing system two years ago, amid ticket prices that were rising from one hour to the next as entire tranches were snapped up.
Over the course of the new deal, the Escapade apartment complex on the outside of Becketts will be completed and there are plans for a karting complex, as the track continues to evolve as new venues like Las Vegas raise expectations of track facilities further.
“I would argue very strongly that we are leading the way for traditional circuits in showing what F1 is nowadays,” said Pringle last year. “I don’t think there is anybody from the established circuit brigade and certainly not from the cornerstone races who have embraced this way of operating with quite the same verve as we have.
“It is so important to have this deal securing Silverstone as the home of the British GP for a decade.
“I really enjoy the challenge of promoting a race in the manner to which F1 under its now quite established ownership structure want it delivered. They push us, it’s good for us, we are constantly aware of the bar being raised.”
F1’s commercial rights holders have been agreeing much longer-term contracts with race promoters, which offers more stability and greater incentive to invest. Jeddah, Miami, Montreal and Budapest are among the locations that have contracts into the next decade. Bahrain has a deal until 2036, while Albert Park will host the Australian Grand Prix until 2037.
