Bernie Ecclestone has increased the pressure on Silverstone to commit to a deal to hold next year’s British grand prix.
F1 boss Ecclestone said the circuit “is close” to agreeing a deal, but if nothing was agreed before the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Monaco on 11 December then the race would be dropped from next year’s calendar.
"The World Council will meet and we will just pull it off — we will have to," Ecclestone told The Times. "We'll have no other choice, if we don't have a contract. We shouldn't have anything on the calendar unless we have a contract in place.
"They are close and they know they are close. It's not the terms and conditions so much as whether the investors are prepared to bankroll them and take the risk."
Ecclestone said he was keen to see a British grand prix remain, but said the circuit would not be getting any special treatment. The main stumbling block is a financial one, with Silverstone believed to be offering less than Ecclestone wants for the race.
"Of course we want a British Grand Prix," he said. "I've been spending an awful lot of time trying to make sure it does happen, but there is no chance of an exceptional contract for Silverstone. Why should there be?"
