Silverstone boss Stuart Pringle says plans for the two Formula 1 races to be held at the venue this summer will look very different from a traditional British Grand Prix.
Silverstone agreed a commercial deal with the Formula 1 organisation last week, and both parties are currently working towards a pair of back-to-back behind closed doors events on July 26 and August 2, although the dates have yet to be officially confirmed.
Speaking in an interview with Sky F1, Pringle admitted that plans were being made “on the hoof” amid an unprecedented time for the championship to get the races together.
“We’re still getting or head around it,” said Pringle.
“There is work taking place, and it will do right up until the delivery.
“Let me stress again this all entirely subject to the government giving it the green light, so that may be a reason why these [races] do not happen.
“However if the situation evolves in line with the road map that the government unveiled at the beginning of the week then it looks like it should be possible, and we are working with them and with all the relevant authorities to make sure that we can comply.
“F1 are looking to introduce a very rigorous and extensive testing regime to enable them to take their championship around the world.
“Yes, we have had to do quite a lot of planning on the hoof to see whether it’s possible.
“It will look very different to how we normally run an F1 event.
“I’m desperately sorry to our fans that they can’t be present and I hope that they will take some comfort from there being the British GP, and another one that as yet does not have a name.”
Pringle acknowledged that there are still major challenges to be addressed involving travel, and not just arrangements for the three F1 teams based outside the UK to get to Silverstone.
Current UK government plans include a 14-day quarantine for people entering the country from overseas, including those making the journey via boat, car and international rail.
F1 is believed to be seeking an exemption, with plans to kick off the season in Austria two weeks prior to the planned Silverstone dates.
“It is about overseas teams coming to the UK, but it’s also about the UK teams going back and forth from their home bases.
“Yes, it’s going to be considerably easier for 70% of the teams to get to this race over other races, but there are still 30% who are not based in ‘motorsport valley’ here in Northamptonshire.
“So there do need to be robust solutions and solutions that need to meet not just the requirements of this country, but also other countries in the championship, because there won’t be a championship if the only place that F1 can run is Great Britain.
“There needs to be a holistic solution that works for the thing as a whole.
“I know there’s a huge amount of work going into that, I know there’s a lot of desire on everybody’s part to find a workable solution, and there is a little bit of time still. I have hopes that those solutions will be found.”
Pringle added that fans who bought tickets for the 2020 race and have switched their bookings to 2021 will have access to exclusive video content created in conjunction with Sky F1.