Officials are mulling over several options that, if implemented, will give us Formula 1 racing in 2020.
With nine races of the 2020 Formula 1 season already canceled or postponed due to Coronavirus, many fans wonder if there will be racing this year. FIA president Jean Todt says that debt could hit all teams to the point where the budget for the future will have to be lowered just to save F1 from being eclipsed.
But that outcome could be avoided if an idea advanced by F1’s motorsport director Ross Brawn gets approved. It would be to start the season without spectators sometime in July.
Still, though, the matter isn’t in the sport’s hands. It’s in the hands of national governments. For one thing, governments would have to lift travel bans for teams to attend races, especially in Europe, where most events are held. “Travel for the teams and travel for everyone involved is going to be one of the big issues,” Brawn said. “You could argue once we get there, we could become fairly self-contained.”
Ross Brawn (photo, Daily Express)
Brawn continued: “Our view is that probably a European start will be favorable. We could have a very enclosed environment, where teams come in on charters, we channel them into the circuit, and make sure everyone is tested, cleared, and that there is no risk to anyone. We’d race without spectators. That’s not great, but it’s better than no racing at all. We have to remember that there are millions of people who follow the sport at home. A lot of them are isolating. To keep the sport alive and entertain people, it would be a huge bonus in this crisis we have.”
“But we can’t put anyone at risk,” adds Brawn. “There’s no point having a start and then stopping again for a while.”
It’s a conversation worth having in the sport and also with national governments. The stakes are high. As McLaren CEO Zak Brown put it, “Four teams might be out of business due to the Coronavirus.”
Other season-saving ideas are being tossed around, too, including having midweek racing only, and eliminating practice day so that Grand Prix events span two days only (qualifying and the race).
F1 CEO Chase Carey believes there could be a total of 18 to 19 races if things get started in July either with or without spectators. F1 could also run the least number of races (eight) to make a world championship possible.
Bottom line? It would be great if Formula 1, the FIA, and governments could work out a plan. In the end, Brawn’s proposal just might be workable.
