Topics: Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton
An abandoned British Grand Prix circuit would have passed through a Premier League stadium in a 'ground-breaking' proposal before being scrapped.
Although the British Grand Prix is currently hosted by Silverstone, it has alternated between various venues throughout F1's 75-year history.
The Northamptonshire-based venue faced the very real prospect of losing hosting rights entirely back in 2009, with FIA chief Bernie Ecclestone agreeing a deal for Donington Park to stage the race from 2010.
Ultimately, the circuit's owners failed to raise the required capital for it to host Formula 1, and Silverstone swooped back in to agree a 17-year deal with Ecclestone.
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One condition of the deal was to make significant track improvements, with the circuit's layout changing for 2010.
Had the deal not been agreed, F1 would have almost certainly not held a Grand Prix in Britain in 2010.
But two years later, there were initial proposals to have two races in the country.
A Formula 1 Grand Prix in the English capital of London had long been touted by fans, given the historical landmarks and scenery.
Interest had grown substantially by the time that the city hosted the 2012 Olympics.
The Times reported that, within plans for a London-based street circuit, it was estimated that a crowd of 120,000 could be accommodated around a track spanning around three miles.
Ecclestone himself was willing to contribute £35 million to fund the project, with the track planned to pass through some of London's most significant landmarks.
Those landmarks included Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and the Mall, with a section seeing cars drive underneath London's notably tight Admiraity Arch.
Santander - who sponsored McLaren and the British Grand Prix at the time - even went as far as producing a concept video of what the track could look like, featuring then-McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.
Button described the Admiralty Arch section as 'probably the scariest corner I've ever driven on'.
Plans were ultimately abandoned, largely because the circuit's organisers lost a bid to become a joint tenant of the London Stadium.
West Ham won that particular race in 2016 and continue to host Premier League matches at the stadium.
In 2023, it was reported by The Times that new £250 million plans had been drawn up by LDN Collective and DAR to host a Grand Prix in east London, near the Royal Docks.
Cars would drive alongside London City Airport, with the 5.9km circuit design likened to Canada's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
However, an F1 spokesperson told Crash.net that the race would not be held - citing Silverstone's ongoing contract as the reason.
"There are no plans for a Docklands Grand Prix. We have a long-standing relationship with Silverstone."
