HECTIC FOR HAMMY
No time to Lewis as F1 rescue plan aired
FORMULA ONE has a masterplan to rescue the coronavirus-hit season – including behind-closed-doors races and hosting three Grand Prix weekends in a row.
The sport is in crisis after last month’s Australian curtain-raiser was axed and the following eight races up to the French Grand Prix on June 28 have been put on hold.
With travel restricted as countries fight to contain the deadly virus it remains unclear when the F1 circus will be in a position to resume their globetrotting – giving world champ Lewis Hamilton the chance to win a record-equalling seventh title this year.
But F1’s motorsport managing director Ross Brawn remains optimistic they can still host a jam-packed campaign – albeit without fans, which would be a first.
He said: “Travel for the teams and travel for everyone involved is going to be one of the big issues. You could argue once we get there we could become fairly self-contained.
“Our view is probably a European start will be favourable and that could even be a closed event. We could have a very enclosed environment, where teams come in on charters, we channel them into the circuit, we make sure everyone is tested, cleared and that there is no risk to anyone.
“We have a race with no spectators. That’s not great but it’s better than no racing at all. But there’s also no point having a start and then stopping again for a while. It’s conceivable that it could be a closed event.”
Brawn also says it is possible to host a 19-race calendar with a series of tripleheaders followed by a weekend off, if it was possible to start racing in July.
He said: “Eight races is the minimum we can have a world championship, according to the FIA Statutes. We could achieve eight races by starting in October.
“But then there is always the possibility we could run into next year. That’s being explored. Can we stray into January to finish the season?
“If we were able to start at the beginning of July we could do a 19-race season. It would be tough – three races on, one weekend off, three races on, one weekend off.”