F1 Spokesperson Shoots Down London Grand Prix Plans

An F1 spokesperson has shot down word of a London Grand Prix.

The possibility of a London Grand Prix has excited motorsport fans for years, and the latest plans unveiled by consultants working on the £250m redevelopment of East London's Royal Docks seemed to offer hope that it could finally become a reality. However, an F1 insider has now stated that the London Grand Prix is not happening, leaving fans disappointed.

According to PlanetF1 a spokesperson for F1 said:

"There are no plans for a docklands Grand Prix. We have a long-standing relationship with Silverstone."

Good tbh!

I love Silverstone as a circuit, and I really don't believe another street circuit would translate to a good race.

If they're going to add more tracks to the calendar, maybe they should be targeting countries where some good can be done?#F1 #F12023 https://t.co/ur3umX0BiY
— F1FAll (@F1fAllOfficial) March 14, 2023

The proposed circuit, designed with Formula 1 in mind from the outset, would have been a 3.6-mile track with 22 corners and long straights, reaching speeds of up to 127mph. The track would have been built around the Royal Docks, with floating grandstands along the waterfront and four stations on the DLR network serving the circuit directly. The plans also included floating modules that could provide hotels, restaurants, and parks, which could be reconfigured or swapped with grandstands, food stalls, and entertainment venues over the race weekend.

The proposed linear park, with decking that could be removed to reveal the race track below, was an innovative design element that would have allowed for a flexible eventscape. The plans looked to create a family-oriented leisure and events destination around the large, contained, and clean body of water in the Royal Docks.

While commercial rights owners Liberty Media were reportedly interested in expanding the sport's audience with more races, like the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend, it appears that the impracticality of closing busy streets and dealing with centuries-old layouts of central London meant that the London Grand Prix was not a viable option.

Despite the setback, the excitement and buzz created by the plans underline the potential of the Royal Docks area as a hub for motorsport fans. The Docklands area already hosts Formula E, and the innovative design elements included in the London Grand Prix proposal could help transform the area into a truly unique event destination. While the London Grand Prix may not be happening, the plans have shown that the potential for exciting motorsport events in East London remains.