Bernie Ecclestone believes Donington Park and Silverstone may have to end up sharing the British Grand Prix in the future in order to keep the event on the calendar.
With Donington Park facing a race against time to raise the £80 million ($131m) it needs to upgrade its facilities, Ecclestone dropped a further hint on Sunday that Silverstone could yet step into the breach.
Speaking to the Independent on Sunday newspaper, Ecclestone said: "If they don't do it, Donington will get together with Silverstone. If Silverstone do all the things they promised me they are going to do, we are going to be at Silverstone."
Ecclestone's comments come almost a month after he and FIA president Max Mosley dropped firm hints about Silverstone being given a British GP reprieve. However, with time counting down for Silverstone to be able to get planning underway to host a race next year, one of its key figures has also questioned whether it would be worth embarking on a revamp to host the race every other year.
Damon Hill, president of the British Racing Drivers' Club that owns Silverstone, was unimpressed with Ecclestone's comments.
"I am not in favor of rotating it. I think it's an insult," he said. "It's another absurd step to try and squeeze as much profit and as much benefit for the commercial rights-holder. It's not a long-term strategy.
"I'm in favor of the contract for the British Grand Prix being negotiated with Silverstone, because I don't believe that the Donington project is viable."