Hamilton: F1 must avoid British Grand Prix clashes

Lewis Hamilton has called on Formula 1 organisers to stop holding the British Grand Prix on weekends which directly clash with major sporting events as this year’s race competes against the Cricket World Cup final and the Wimbledon tennis men’s final.

With the Silverstone race holding a July slot in the F1 calendar it has frequently been run at the same time as the final week of the Wimbledon tennis tournament. The British GP faces new competition this year with England and Wales hosting the Cricket World Cup this summer – with the final between England and New Zealand taking place at Lords on the same day as the race.

This has led to reigning F1 world champion Hamilton demanding his home race avoids clashes with other major sporting events in the future.

“What I don’t understand is why the organisers put the race on the same day as all these other big events – Wimbledon – I really don’t understand it,” Hamilton said. “This is such a special weekend, it needs all the focus of the whole country and just not a small amount.

“I think people will be switching between channels on Sunday, not sure what to watch. There’s quite a few of us Brits but we come here to raise the flag and do the country proud so I’m just going to try and play my part.”

Following the announcement that the British GP would remain at Silverstone thanks to a new five-year deal, keeping the race at the Northamptonshire circuit until at least 2024, organisers announced in a statement the 2020 race is set take place on July 19.

While the Cricket World Cup will not clash with the British round next year, Wimbledon 2020 is scheduled to run between June 29-July 12 and theoretically avoids ending on the same weekend as the Silverstone race.