Formula One news

Hamilton doing upmost to keep home race

Lewis Hamilton has assured he, like compatriot Jenson Button, does all in his power to attempt a retaining of the British Grand Prix's place on the Formula One calendar. The World Champion, who won at Silverstone last year, explained the influences drivers have on the future of races.

"Jenson wants to go halves!" Lewis jokes at Silverstone

With the event set to move from Silverstone to Donington Park next year, the majority of the crowd this weekend will be hoping to retain the race full-stop, regardless of its location. In order to save the race, Hamilton joked about himself and Button purchasing the Silverstone venue themselves: "Clearly that's impossible, that's not in the pipeline but no, Jenson wants to go halves!" he joked in Thursday's press conference. "We work as hard as we can, alongside the BRDC (British Racing Drivers' Club, owners of Silverstone) and, as British drivers I think we can both, in our positions - not as role models but with our image - call up people we want to, whoever we want really, I think - if we want to call up the Prime Minister I'm sure we could easily!

"But no, I think we just want to show our support and show the importance of it. Perhaps people look at the British Grand Prix and perhaps don't realise what it would be like without it; I think we should all step back and realise what motor sport would be like without it and understand that, and then take action - I think we all need to pull together and support it. I think we need support from the government, we need support from other backers, wherever we can get it and, as long as we have a British Grand Prix in Formula One, it will always remain a great sport to be a part of."

Hamilton dominated for McLaren at home in 2008

With low attendances at races such as Turkey this year, Red Bull's Mark Webber and Ferrari's Felipe Massa have already insisted to lower ticket prices in order for the fans' enjoyment of the sport, as Hamilton also expressed his own concerns as to the effect on the general public. "It's not just us who are affected, us as the drivers, it's you guys, the amount of jobs we are able to give people with these Grands Prix. There are thousands of people involved - it would be a shame to lose that."

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