Formula 1 CEO and President Stefano Domenicali met with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for a celebration of the sport’s 75th anniversary year – and a discussion about F1’s role in the United Kingdom’s economy – ahead of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Starmer welcomed Domenicali, along with Derek Chang, President and CEO of Liberty Media, and a host of F1 personalities to Downing Street on Wednesday, where they met with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle, the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, and MPs.
Also present were current drivers including Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon, Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon, as well as team bosses James Vowles, Flavio Briatore, Andy Cowell, Jonathan Wheatley and Ayao Komatsu.
Other attendees included leaders of the incoming Cadillac F1 operation Graeme Lowdon and Daniel Towriss, F1 ACADEMY Managing Director Susie Wolff and several F1 ACADEMY drivers, and F1 legends Sir Jackie Stewart, Damon Hill, Martin Brundle and Jenson Button.
Domenicali and Starmer both made speeches at the event, which was also attended by young engineers, interns, scholars, apprentices and graduates from F1’s 10 teams – F1 itself currently funding 50 mechanical engineering students with full scholarships at several UK universities.
F1 plays a huge role in the UK’s economy, contributing £12 billion in value annually, with more than 6,000 people being directly employed, and a supply chain of 4,500 companies employing around 41,000 people.
From next year, a full nine of F1’s 11 teams will have major bases and operations in the UK, with Kick Sauber having yesterday announced a new UK Technology Centre in Bicester.
Meanwhile, F1’s world-leading Media and Technical Centre – which produces International Feed coverage and F1 TV shows at every Grand Prix – is located in Biggin Hill, Kent.
Overall, the UK boasts 16.7 million fans, with around half a million spectators expected at this weekend’s British Grand Prix weekend.