Talking about Donington Park's plans to redevelop the track & facilities in order to line up to the FIA requirements for Formula 1, Ecclestone warned owners Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd. – ran by Simon Gillett – that work on the site should be finished by September 2009. In case that doesn't happen, Formula 1 would look elsewhere for Grand Prix locations (outside the UK, that is).
“It would be very bad form if it wasn't held,” argued Stewart, talking to the BBC Northampton. He reminded Ecclestone that he is in fact a Brit and suggested that, should Donington fail to secure the proper conditions for hosting a GP, the British race would have to go back to Silverstone. He argued that the British Grand Prix was the oldest race in Formula 1 history and it should not go to waste that easy.
“If Donington couldn't - and I hope they can - but if they couldn't then Silverstone, I hope, would be asked to run the British Grand Prix. I think Bernie is a Brit and a proud Brit and I don't think he really wants to see no British Grand Prix. I think that would be a very negative thing on him and the people around him.”
“I hold nothing against Donington trying to do it but I would love to be assured that there will be a British Grand Prix. We have had it since 1950. It's the oldest Grand Prix in the world and it would be terrible to lose it,” added Stewart, according to the aforementioned source.
FIA's Max Mosley has already argued that the international body can do nothing to help the stay of historical venues inside the F1 calendar without the permission of Ecclestone. It's only in the hands of the 78-year old to rescue the British GP, either at Donington Park, or at Silverstone.
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