Lauda is shocked

F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone broke off talks with the British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC), owners of Silverstone, the home of British motorsport, over the future of the race at the end of last month.

The BRDC has been accused of living in the past and of allowing the circuit and its facilities to go to rack and ruin while others around the world have ploughed millions into upgrading their venues.

The two factions have also hit an impasse over the amount of money the BRDC is being asked to pay for the rights to hold the grand prix, believing Ecclestone's demands to be exorbitant for a non-profit-making organisation.

Silverstone had been handed a date - July 3 - on the provisional F1 schedule, sparking the belief that the race would go ahead. The final calendar is due to be issued on December 10, but after the talks collapsed it appears the track will be among the expected two casualties needed to bring the number of events down to an approved 17.

While in London promoting his new airline, Lauda, who won three F1 championships, two with Ferrari and one with McClaren, said: "Silverstone as a racetrack is very good.

"It's interesting and it's quick. But Ecclestone is right. It took years to get the (approach) roads organised. They are better but they are still not good."

Lauda said the British Grand Prix was not a club race catering for just a handful of enthusiasts.

"You have to make it attractive to the spectators and for the people who go to and from the circuit (drivers, mechanics and team officials)," he said.

"Look at Shanghai (China) and what they have done," he added. "It's maybe unfair to compare but the problem with Silverstone is that other circuits have gone forward in big steps.

"Look at the Nurburgring (Germany), look at Bahrain, all these sort of places. And what have Silverstone done? Nothing.

"So I understand Ecclestone's point. Silverstone is the same as it was ten or 20 years ago and finally he has had to say 'Guys, you must do something'."

Lauda said the very fact the circuit was in England, a place steeped in nostalgia and history, had probably contributed to its downfall.

"It is so British that it is now out of date," he said.

"It would be a disaster for the sport (if it did not happen) but if they don't do something then Ecclestone is right."

Turkey has been added to the F1 calendar from next year, something that brought a smile from Lauda.

"Can you imagine? Now we go to Istanbul," he said. "If the Turkish can organise a proper race why can't the British, where the sport was invented."

Lauda was signed by Ferrari in 1974 and a year later was crowned world champion. In 1976 he was lucky to escape with his life after sustaining serious burns in an accident at the Nurburgring.

Despite being badly scarred, Lauda continued to drive and won his second title in 1977. Seven years later he repeated the feat, though this time with McLaren.

Though he retired from the sport in 1985 he still kept close ties, acting as an advisor to Ferrari and later having an ill-fated stint as boss of Jaguar's F1 outfit.

His heart remains Ferrari red, but Lauda says he would like to see the Italian team's rivals give them a run for their money and bring an end to Michael Schumacher's dominance.

"I think it's ridiculous, Ferrari won something like 15 races out of 18 (last season)," he said.

"Where were McLaren and Williams? Where are these guys?

"I admire Ferrari for doing a really good job, because a lot of work goes into getting two cars to finish so many races.

"But what I don't understand is how Frank (Williams) and Ron (Dennis, boss' of Williams and McLaren respectively) failed in such a big way. If they would sort themselves out, which I expect them to do next year, then we will have some good racing again.

"What we want is a competitive environment where four to six cars are competitive, not only two.

"There has been a rule change, which is always good, but again Ferrari will be the car to beat.

"I hope the British wake up sooner or later.