Recent months have seen more and more venues sign up for the long term. The number of races with their slots guaranteed until at least 2030 is in double figures, with Melbourne leading the way thanks to its 2037 end date.
On the F1 side, the longer deals give the organisation a steady flow of race-hosting fee income that stretches way into the future.
For the race promoters, it was starting to look a little like a game of musical chairs, given that the schedule is unlikely to ever expand beyond 24 or at most 25 events. Blink and you’ll miss out.
Once Suzuka was confirmed until 2029 earlier this month, Silverstone was left at the last venue with a contract ending in 2024 and no guaranteed slot beyond this season.
The Japanese GP news came shortly after the Barcelona circuit was dumped in favour of a Madrid street race from 2026, and with talk of a London event bubbling away in the background.
If any British fans were getting a little nervous, they need not have worried. It was all in hand, and just a matter of when the Silverstone announcement would be made.
The bottom line is that while F1 may be exploring new markets and pursuing more and more city tracks, its CEO Stefano Domenicali is well aware that the series has to maintain a core of traditional venues.
That also explains why Suzuka’s future was secured in the face of tentative interest from a potential street race in nearby Osaka.
Suzuka has secured its F1 future
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
As the home race of seven of the teams, plus the F1 organisation itself with its offices, Silverstone has a special place in the hierarchy of venues.
“I never thought anyone was going to gazump the British Grand Prix,” says circuit CEO Stuart Pringle.
“It’s 75 years old in 2025. It’s one of the best races of the year, most years. It’s the highest attended, or thereabouts. It’s hugely popular with the teams who are based locally, and it is the most sustainable race by virtue of there being virtually no air travel by the teams to get here, and a 98% UK audience.
“We add great value to the championship, and we more than pay our way. I was always confident about our position.”
Experience paramount after Vegas hardship
Pringle says the regular announcements about contract extensions for other venues didn’t add any extra urgency to negotiations with F1 and experience favours Silverstone.
“What’s pretty clear is that F1 values experience,” he adds….
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