Formula 1 execs are "hopeful that a deal can be reached with Silverstone to keep the British Grand Prix on the calendar after next year's race," having agreed to an extension with Belgium, according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS. Silverstone's owners last year triggered a break clause in the current contract, which means '19 is the last race "unless new terms are reached." F1 Managing Dir, Commercial Operations Sean Bratches said, "We just renewed Spa on terms that work for both parties, and my suspicion is that we can do the same for Silverstone. That's our intent, anyway." Bratches added that conversations continued to be "productive" and a meeting with British Racing Drivers' Club Chair John Grant and his Silverstone team "was planned for London next week" (REUTERS, 6/23).
NEW ERA: Baldwin also reported Aseel Al-Hamad drove a Renault F1 car around the French Grand Prix circuit "in front of thousands of fans" on Sunday and "declared the start of a new era for Saudi women in motorsport." Her lap came on the day a ban on female drivers "getting behind the wheel on the Gulf kingdom's roads" ended. She said, "I believe today is not just celebrating the new era of women starting to drive, it's also the birth of women in motorsport in Saudi Arabia" (REUTERS, 6/24).
LOOSE WHEEL: Baldwin also reported Force India F1 was fined €100,000 ($116,700), with €85,000 ($99,200) of the total suspended for a year, after a rear wheel flew off Sergio Perez's car "at speed" in French GP practice. The team was also told by stewards on Saturday to investigate its assembly and quality control procedures to ensure "such a potentially dangerous accident" does not happen again (REUTERS, 6/23).
