WHO would’ve thought that come May 2020 Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari would have won the same number of races? Yes, this is facetiously meant, given that the 2020 Formula 1 season is yet to commence.
On this front there is good news. However tentative it may be, Formula 1 has recently announced that this year’s season is scheduled for a July 3 start at Austria’s Red Bull Ring.
There are, naturally, several caveats to this announcement. Not least of all is the adjoining announcement that the race will take place without spectators.
Several other venues, including Silverstone and Hungary, have also followed in the same vein by saying that their races too will be held behind closed doors.
The plan set out by F1 and Liberty Media will see a calendar of 15-18 races based on the assumption that things return to whatever the new normal will be in time for the July start in Austria.
As it stands, the calendar proposed sees it split into, effectively, three legs. The European leg will commence in July and run through to the beginning of September.
This is to be followed by the Asian races, including Hanoi, in September and October. The Americas races in Texas, Mexico, and Brazil have been penciled in for October and November while the season set to conclude in the Middle East by December.
CEO of Formula 1, Chase Carey, is fully aware that the proposed calendar is by no means a guarantee. Similarly, F1 motorsport boss, Ross Brawn, is aware of the significant challenges of getting a season up and running.
“One of the logistical challenges is getting everyone tested and cleared to enter the racing environment,” said Brawn.
Austria has presented itself as an attractive opening act, given its impressive infrastructure and a local airport next to the circuit. All of which provides the ability to contain everyone.
The possibility of some circuits hosting back-to-back races has also not been ruled out. The Sakhir circuit and Silverstone, at this stage, seems the likeliest of choices for this should the situation allow for racing to take place in Bahrain and the UK, respectively.
It would be a perfect opportunity for Formula 1 to experiment with different formats as they have been intimating at for some time. Heck, we could even see a second race with reverse grid. That’s sure to add some spice to the mix.
At this stage it’s probably a safe assumption that most F1 fans would settle for any type of safe racing.
It is encouraging to know that plans are being made to get some sort of Formula 1 going in 2020. However, it is important to be cognizant of the situation at hand. All teams, drivers, and fans miss the sport but Formula 1 must only go racing when it can ensure everyone’s relative safety and with the full co-operation of the various governments. The good news is that Formula 1 and Liberty Media agree that this is paramount to their considerations.
