Formula One drivers Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have pushed back on claims made by a senior figure at Silverstone that Red Bull’s dominance has hurt British Grand Prix ticket sales.

Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle made a claim in an interview with Autosport that Red Bull’s dominance of Formula One since the 2022 regulation change was one of the factors behind slower tickets to the British Grand Prix, which is due to take place at Silverstone next week.

Hamilton and Verstappen duly responded to this theory in interviews over last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, with both suggesting that higher ticket prices at the track are a likely factor.

Although a bumper crowd is still expected to Silverstone, with Autosport estimating an accumulated crowd of over 450,000 people is expected over the 3 days, several areas of the track are still not sold out, as compared to last year’s event, which sold out months in advance.

Pringle’s remarks in his interview with Autosport also said that there was an element of demand for live events cooling after an initial post-covid rebound, he also suggested a 2023 season where Red Bull won 21 out of 22 grand prix and Verstappen won 19 races was a factor in slow sales.

He said, “Historically we’ve always had to promote up until the end, but definitely there was a discernible bounce post-Covid. That wasn’t unique to motorsport or Formula 1. Indeed, it was seen in other sports and entertainment events.

“But if there is a strong likelihood of the same winner, and the jeopardy is taken out of sport, it does take the edge off it. Last year was very repetitive in terms of one team dominated and they set off this season in the same vein.

“Things may be changing now, and I do recognise that we had several years of a British driver dominating the championship, and we didn’t mind that so much as a British promoter! But it’s certainly been a lot harder with Red Bull dominating.

“Also, as a promoter, you have to get your ticket pricing strategy correct. You could make these things go quicker if you reduce price. But we have got expensive bills to pay, not less the promoter fee, so it’s about hitting a strategy and making sure it works, which we’re pretty comfortable with.”

The remarks were duly put to reigning world champion Verstappen in a press conference ahead of last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, and the Dutchman denied that his form should be blamed as a factor.

In remarks reported by Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Verstappen said, “I don’t think it’s my fault.

“This current Formula 1 season is actually very exciting, lately several teams have been competing for victories.

“If then a promoter cannot fill all the seats and blames someone else, it is better that they first look at themselves what they are doing wrong because in other places, I think they manage to fill the stands quite easily.”

His remarks were echoed by 8-time British Grand Prix winner Hamilton, who is preparing for his final British Grand Prix with Mercedes before joining Ferrari for 2025.

Hamilton praised the British Grand Prix as an event but said that the organisers needed to work on ways to make it more affordable for fans.

Some reports have found that ticket prices to the British Grand Prix have increased significantly in the last few years, with 3 day general admission standing tickets priced from £350 as of today (24/06), and 4 day tickets including an additional concert on the Thursday night crossing the £400 mark. For scale, a 3 day general admission ticket to the 2019 British Grand Prix was priced at £180.

Hamilton said, “I mean, it’s an incredible event. If you take it from a bird’s-eye view, the whole event is… all the space is used up. So many fans come and have a great weekend.

“The only thing I would ever say is that we have to watch ticket prices. I think they’re continuing to rise, and the cost of living nowadays, I think it’s too high. I’m just thinking from the perspective of a fan that would come with a family. It’s hugely expensive, so I think it’s looking into ways where you can make better accessibility for people.”

Last year’s British Grand Prix saw a record attendance for Silverstone, with an accumulated attendance of 480,000 over the three days and race-day crowd of over 150,000 reported by the venue.

The 2024 British Grand Prix is scheduled to take place on Sunday July 7th.