Quotes Roundup – Week Ending 13th December

The very best from the mouths of those in the know.

Silverstone Gets 2010 Deal

The near-term future of the British GP is secure…

• “This will ensure that Great Britain will remain on the Formula 1 calendar for many years to come, which is something I have personally always wanted to see happen. The team at Silverstone already knows how to organise a good event, so now everyone can look forward to next summer at Silverstone.” Bernie Ecclestone
  
• “The place has an atmosphere that money can’t buy, and I have some fantastic memories of the track – winning both races in GP2 in 2006, getting an incredibly emotional and satisfying pole in ‘07 and winning in the wet in my championship year.” Lewis Hamilton
  
• “The BRDC and Silverstone have been absolutely mindful of the effect of the British Grand Prix on the industry in this country, which placed it in a difficult situation because they also had to think of their obligations to their own property and their own business. So it had to be a deal that was doable.” Damon Hill
  

Another Schumacher Comeback

The red team are keen on getting youngsters in the car…

• “Can someone who’s 40 or 41 years old compete against someone who is 24 years old? In other sports people have proven that they’re very capable even at that age, and I think that would add another fascinating aspect.” Nick Fry
  
• “He is exceptionally fit. He has never done anything else in his life — it’s the only thing he has devoted himself to — and the fact that he has gone and raced motorbikes shows that he has still got the need for speed.” Damon Hill
  
• “Schumacher coming back to F1 is great news for the sport. But I don’t know if it will be great news for Michael Schumacher. He will be putting his reputation on the line coming back into the sport.” Jenson Button
  

Brawn Recover From Their Year

Peter Sauber takes the helm once more…

• “The reaction we’ve got from most of the other teams is positive. Why anyone would not want to wish the name Mercedes, which I think is one of the top three brand names in the world, to be on a chassis would be an interesting discussion to have.” Nick Fry
  
• “After the race in Brazil it was an emotional moment and I was just knackered basically. I’d run out of steam because it was so stressful. Then you go through weeks of just waking up and not realising what you’ve achieved, other days you wake up and realise I’ve achieved my goal – I am world champion.” Jenson Button
  
• “The reality of life is that we have to up our game, because our competitors have upped their game. Cricket has gone from something that was as dull as ditchwater to something that is competition for F1. It is not the main competition, but it is example of how people have raised their game.” Nick Fry