Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has reaffirmed his desire for London to host a grand prix.

Plans for a 5.1km circuit around city landmarks including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Trafalgar Square were unveiled last month and Ecclestone insists that the proposal is serious.

"We are getting on with it," he told The Guardian. "It is no joke, 100% completely no joke."

"With the way things are, maybe we would front it and put the money up for it.

"If we got the okay and everything was fine, I think we could do that."

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton has described the proposed new race as "sensational".