Talks held over Formula One event on the streets of London

Discussions have been held about a possible Formula One demonstration run on the streets of London in the week of the British Grand Prix.

F1’s owners, Liberty Media, have held tentative talks with Westminster City Council, who have said any event “would definitely not be a race”.

But council officials have been receptive to initial negotiations about the idea of drivers such as Lewis Hamilton doing demo runs in front of spectators as F1 looks to widen its appeal.

A Westminster City Council spokesman said: “Officers from the Greater London Authority and Westminster City Council have met with event organisers about a potential showcase event in central London, not a race. Discussions are at a very early stage and, as such, nothing has been agreed.”

July 12 - four days before this year’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone - has been mooted as a possible date for the event.