British GP to run behind closed doors
Silverstone has confirmed that this year’s British Grand Prix will be a behind-closed-doors event if the race is able to take place on 19 July. With government restrictions still in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the circuit announced on Monday that it would not be able to welcome any fans to the race.
“We have left this difficult decision for as long as possible, but it is abundantly clear given the current conditions in the country and the government requirements in place now and for the foreseeable future, that a grand prix under normal conditions is just not going to be possible,” managing director Stuart Pringle wrote in a letter to ticket holders.
“Our obligations to protect the health and safety of everyone involved in preparing and delivering the event, our volunteer marshals and ‘race makers’, and of course, you, the amazing fans, means that this is the best, safest and only decision we could make.”
Silverstone confirmed that all ticket holders would be offered either a full refund or the option to transfer their ticket to next year’s race. Thousands of free tickets are also set to be given away to NHS and other key workers for the 2021 British GP.
Pringle said there was no set deadline for deciding on the running of the race behind closed doors, but was encouraged by the latest push from the government to open talks with national bodies over how live sport would return once the pandemic was over.
“Racing behind closed doors, that would be entirely subject to government rules,” Pringle said. “But it’s very encouraging that the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport at the weekend indicated that they are keen to start a dialogue between medical officials and people in sport to see what might be done to achieve that. We are working together with Formula 1 and the medical officials to see how we can do that for some kind of British Grand Prix behind closed doors.”
Silverstone’s announcement came just hours before F1 revealed its first proper plans for the 2020 season, sticking to its ambition for a 15-18 race schedule that would be completed before the end of the calendar year.
F1 has targeted the Austrian Grand Prix on 5 July to be the season opener following the cancellation of the French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard, which was also confirmed on Monday. It was the 10th
F1 race to be called off in 2020.
The Austrian Grand Prix would be the start of a run of European races, likely to take place behind closed doors, through July, August and into September. This would be followed by races across Asia and the Americas in October and November before concluding the season in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi in December.
“We expect the early races to be without fans but hope fans will be part of our events as we move further into the schedule,” said Liberty Media boss Chase
Carey. “We still have to work out many issues like the procedures for the teams and our other partners to enter and operate in each country.
“The health and safety of all involved will continue to be priority one and we will only go forward if we are confident we have reliable procedures to address both risks and possible issues. The FIA, teams, promoters, and
other key partners have been working with us throughout these steps and we want to thank them for all their support and efforts during this incredibly challenging time. We also want to recognise the fact that the teams have been supporting us at the same time that they have been focusing enormous and heroic efforts to build ventilators to help those infected by COVID-19.”
The possibility of hosting multiple races at one track remains strong – with the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone both leading candidates to do so – as F1 requires eight races across three continents to classify as a world championship. Barcelona and Imola have also thrown their hats into the ring to host races, potentially behind closed doors. Any fewer than 15 races would result in broadcasters receiving a partial refund for their fee.
Officials in Austria are working hard to try to put procedures in place for the race to take place, including testing people in the local Spielberg area and making preparations for the paddock personnel. But they would still have to comply with strict guidelines on entering and exiting the country, which would require all attending the race taking a COVID-19 test.
Racing Point chief Otmar Szafnauer said he thought it was realistic to get the season started in Austria. “If Austria do a very good job as a country to contain the spread of the virus into July, and there’s testing available for all of the Formula 1 employees or participants to actually test, I think it’s plausible to put on a race in early July,” he said. “If by sometime in June, we say,
‘Yes, it’s on, it’s happening, we’re safe to go’, I think all the teams will be able to make it, no problem.”