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Button backs London Grand Prix

Jenson Button admits racing in London would be a "dream" © Getty Images

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Jenson Button believes a London Grand Prix is "a step closer to reality" after an overhaul of road safety and speed limit laws made it seem like more of a possibility.

A government consultation, running until April 10, on closed-road motorsport events on mainland at Britain may open the door for an F1 race to take place in the city, something first put forward 20 months ago. The 14-corner, 5.1km circuit would include iconic landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Trafalgar Square, and Button insists he can see it being a popular venue should it come to fruition.

"When I first saw the plans for a London Grand Prix I knew they were ambitious, but fantastic," Button told Sky Sports News. "The thought of a race through the capital's streets was only a dream when they initiated the project, but this week's changes to the law bring the idea a step closer to reality. When you really picture what it would look like it's truly mind-blowing.

"You could create such a unique grand prix through the streets of London - the roads are naturally very wide and long, so straight line speeds would be high, and you could create a real blend of corners. When you combine all of that with the world-famous monuments that would feature in the backdrop you can see why it would be an awesome addition to the calendar. The dream has taken a step closer this week, and I'd love to see this amazing concept finally happen."

The Motor Sports Association (MSA) has championed a grand prix around the streets of the city for years and they believe it is a step in the right direction.

"This is the news British motor sport has been waiting for," said MSA acting chief Rob Jones. "It represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change the landscape of our sport, allowing local communities across the country to host motor sport events and enjoy all the excitement and economic benefit they bring."

The Red Bull team did promotional work in London in 2010 © Getty Images

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