Ecclestone 'to sue' Stewart over comments.

The battle to save the British Grand Prix has taken a new, and unexpected, twist with the news that Bernie Ecclestone is to sue British Racing Drivers' Club president Jackie Stewart.

According to a Reuters report, Ecclestone has instructed his lawyers to begin libel proceedings against Stewart in relation to a BBC radio interview given on Wednesday, following the news that talks between the BRDC and Ecclestone over the future of the British Grand Prix had broken down - with Ecclestone saying that the race was now dead.

In the interview, Stewart suggested that Ecclestone had gone back on an agreement made with the minister of sport Richard Caborn, which would have seen the F1 boss commit to Silverstone for the next two years.

"Bernie Ecclestone committed to Richard Caborn that he would commit to a two-year contract in order to allow us the situation we need to develop the land," Stewart told the Today programme. "Now he's walked away from that commitment, which is unusual."

However, Ecclestone was clearly not impressed by the comments made by Stewart, with his lawyers issuing a statement stating that they intend to sue for libel.

"Mr Ecclestone, who has made it clear that he has tried hard to keep the British Grand Prix, and has explained his frustration at why this seems to be impossible in light of failed negotiations with the BRDC, is not suing the BBC, rather just its interviewee," lawyer Simon Smith said.

With the relationship between Ecclestone and Stewart now seemingly at breaking point, it remains to be seen how big an impact the decision to start legal proceedings will have on the future of the race.