Ferrari's Ross Brawn is hoping Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone will not decide to drop the British Grand Prix off the World Championship calendar.

Ecclestone was fuming after arriving late for Sunday's race and blamed poor organisation at the track for the confusion that led to him getting lost.

When asked if next year's race was guaranteed, he replied "we will have to see", prompting speculation about the track's future.

But Brawn said: "I would hate to see Silverstone disappear off the schedule and I very much hope it doesn't.

"I think they've made a fantastic effort, if you look at the work that's been done. It's a little unfair to criticise them at this stage.

"It's also a very good racetrack, one where you can clearly overtake, and maybe they need a bit of encouragement to finish it off.

"Perhaps that's what Bernie is doing, but they have made tremendous progress. It would be a shame to give them a hard time with all the effort that has gone into it.

"When this is finished it will be comparable with any track in Formula One. To me Silverstone is one of the true racetracks."

FIA president Max Mosley does not believe a well-run British Grand Prix will be one of the races which makes way for new F1 events.

"It is highly probable that there will be at least two new races in 2004," he said. "I don't think the calendar will be extended.

"I think the British Grand Prix is very much one of the traditional races and provided it is properly run then there is no realistic chance that it would be lost."