F1 considered moving British GP for 1,000th race 

Formula 1 chiefs have revealed they considered moving next year’s British Grand Prix to April so Silverstone could host the world championship’s 1,000th race. 

Silverstone hosted F1’s first-ever championship race in 1950 and the sport’s bosses were keen to reschedule the 2019 British Grand Prix to coincide with the milestone, but the prospect of “sub-optimal” weather in April persuaded them otherwise. 

The British Grand Prix took place in April during the 2000 season when heavy rain caused spectator disruption and Silverstone has since held a mid-July spot on the calendar. 

“Silverstone was the first grand prix and we would have liked to see the 1,000th go back to the first,” F1’s commercial director Sean Bratches told Reuters during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend. 

“I think there’s a nice story and a nice harmony there. But when I was told, being a relatively new Brit, that the weather is sub-optimal in April, they warded me off that quickly.”

Instead, the Chinese Grand Prix is set to have the honour of hosting F1’s 1,000th race. Bratches insists F1 will put on a show of celebration for the landmark race and is keen to capitalise of the importance of the Chinese market. 

"We've spent a lot of time on this topic and looking at different circumstances, weather patterns. China is a great place to race. It's part of our future and we're excited about going there for that particular race.

”That said... next year we're going to celebrate it as the year of the 1,000th grand prix so you're going to see integrations across the year celebrating this incredible milestone."

F1’s future at Silverstone beyond next season is uncertain, after the Northamptonshire’s circuit owner - the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) - confirmed last year it had activated a break clause to cease hosting the race after 2019.