F1 LINES UP EIGHT RACES, ALL IN EUROPE, TO SALVAGE 70TH SEASON
NEW DELHI: It is a season that should have marked a happy occasion for Formula One, 2020 being its 70th anniversary, a time to recall its origins when Italy’s Giuseppe ‘Nino’ Farina went from pole to flag at Silverstone in the first ever race in 1950. The Covid-19 pandemic though has put such celebrations on hold, throwing the season into uncertainty.
F1 CEO Chase Carey recently said there is a danger of the season not happening at all if the situation didn’t improve.
Seven of the 22 races have already been cancelled, including the Monaco Grand Prix—it will be the first time since 1954 that the race won’t wind through the narrow streets of the principality. Azerbaijan, Japan and Singapore joined the list last Friday while many others have been postponed or unlikely to happen.
F1 too is now preparing an initial list of eight races—all in Europe. The season is expected to finally start with the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg on July 5 followed by the Styrian GP— named after the Austrian state where the venue is—a week later. Both the closed-doors races will be held at the Red Bull Ring circuit.
Hungary will stage a race in July before the season moves to England with Silverstone hosting two races—british GP and 70th Anniversary Gp—on August 2 and 9. It will be followed by races in Spain, Belgium and Italy. Like European football, all races will miss the buzz of the fans, especially at a venue like Silverstone that sees an overall weekend attendance of 350,000.
EYEING RUSSIA
Though not finalised yet taking the health issues into consideration, F1 then intends to move to Russia, Asia (Vietnam and China) and the Americas (Canada, United States, Mexico and Brazil) to host postponed races. The organisers aim to end with races in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi in late December or early January.
That plan will heavily depend on air travel and quarantine restrictions easing, countries opening their borders and other logistical factors. It could see more European races, to achieve F1’s target of 15-18 races this season. That would still be a world of improvement for race drivers stuck to virtual racing.
NEW VENUES
There are reports that old venues like Hockenheim (Germany) and Imola (Italy) are close to sealing deals to host races. Imola, which last held a race in 2006 when Michael Schumacher won, have renewed their FIA Grade 1 licence, needed to host a race. Venues like Portimao (Portugal) and Ferrari-owned Mugello (Italy), which are yet to stage F1, are also in contention with more double-headers like Austria and Britain also not being ruled out.
GO EAST
The real expansion of F1 into a global sport only happened in the last 20-25 years as a result of former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone’s ‘go east’ policy. Asian races introduced under him like Singapore, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi (all night races) have become permanent, even at the cost of traditional races like Germany and France. Other races in Malaysia, India and South Korea have stopped.
GETTING STARTED
Following a long shutdown, F1 teams are slowly opening their shutters. Reigning champions Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have started preparations, testing their 2018 car ahead of next month’s season opener.
“I didn’t feel like I’ve ever left the water, so that’s a positive,” Hamilton said, having driven a F1 car after more than 100 days. “Every time you take a big break you always wonder whether you can still drive. So, it’s a good feeling to know of course I can, I’m ready, I feel fit.”
NEW NORMAL
The pandemic has forced organisers to introduce new non-racing rules to protect F1 personnel like no podium celebrations, prerace driver parades or assembling for the national anthems.
“The practices we have had in the past just can’t be done,” Brawn said. “The podium procedure can’t happen, but we’re looking at doing something on the grid after the race. We can’t present the trophies, as you can’t have someone in close proximity presenting a trophy, (but) we have plans and procedures. We’re looking at how we can present it on TV.”