Let’s go racing in London, Wolff urges PM and Khan

MERCEDES boss Toto Wolff has called on re-elected Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to get behind a London Grand Prix.

The idea of a race in the capital has long been mooted by F1 bosses, with Docklands the most recent potential venue.

Covid put the idea of a second grand prix in Britain — alongside the British GP at Silverstone — on the back-burner, but a London GP has now received the backing of one of the most influential figures in the sport. Austrian Wolff (below) said: “I would like that we have a grand prix in Silverstone, as this is what the fans love and Silverstone is part of the traditional circuit of races in F1. But racing in London would top everything and I hope that the Mayor of London and (Prime Minister) Mr Johnson read this and we get that going.”

Former F1 ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone had previously been at the heart of plans for a race in the capital, at one stage offering up £35million to run it past some of the city’s most iconic landmarks.

At the end of 2018, interest renewed, with current F1 owners Liberty Media exploring the possibility of it taking place in Greater London.

F1’s head of motorsport Ross Brawn had previously told Standard Sport: “We would like to see London complement Silverstone, not replace it.”

Khan wants to push ahead with his aspiration of London being the sporting capital of the world during his second term, with hopes for big events, including the Olympics, returning as early as 2036.

Wolff added. “We have the most efficient hybrid engines in the world and the current superstar is a British guy, so let’s go racing in London,” he said.