Formula 1 is working on a corona-compatible racing calendar. Does Germany play a major role in this? The start is planned for July 5 in Spielberg.
- The Corona crisis is shaking up the sports world *.
- Formula 1 * is also affected by the disease .
- It had already canceled several races or moved be.
- Plans for a continuation of the racing series are ongoing. The Hockenheimring is an option for races .
Update from May 8, 2020: While the Bundesliga is already planning to restart, Formula 1 is still looking for routes for its emergency calendar . Negotiations are also underway with hosts who were not actually planned for this year.
"We are in the advanced stage of a plan for further races in Europe until early September, including races during the actual summer break in August," said managing director Chase Carey at a switching conference with investors .
You want to "check all options". It has recently been speculated that the Hockenheimring, which was not actually planned for this season, could also step in for a Grand Prix.
Formula 1: season start should take place in Austria
"We have two major challenges: we need to find places to run a race and we need to make sure that we can get everyone involved and their equipment there," said Carey . The goal remains to start the season with two races without spectators in Spielberg, Austria on July 5th and 12th. After the shortly canceled start in Australia in March, all World Cup races were canceled or postponed until the end of June.
However, Formula 1 still hopes to have at least 15 races until December and to end the season in Abu Dhabi. A compulsory break until the end of the year is “ hardly likely, ” said Carey . The coming World Cup year should again go as planned.
Earlier, rights holder Liberty Media announced significant revenue losses. Compared to the first quarter of 2019, when $ 246 million went to Formula 1 owners, this year it was only $ 39 million - 84 percent less . Formula 1 is currently lacking both the entry fees of track operators and the TV revenue.
Two Formula 1 races in one place? Sports director Brawn finds solution "very attractive"
Update from May 1, 2020: Two races in one place in a row are becoming increasingly realistic for Formula 1 during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic . Racing series sports director Ross Brawn described corresponding mind games in the new podcast "F1 Nation" on Friday as "very attractive". Accordingly, it is conceivable that two races can take place on consecutive weekends for the late start in Spielberg in Austria and then in Silverstone in England. The current season start planned for July 5 in the Alps could therefore be followed by another Grand Prix on July 12 before going to Great Britain for the same pattern for two weeks .
According to Brawn, the biggest challenge on the way back to regular racing is "that everyone be tested and released for the paddock". Therefore, it makes sense to do this process for two races after arrival. The best thing for Formula 1 to do is to create its own “biosphere”, i.e. its own ecosystem, said the 65-year-old.
"We work through all the requirements to ensure that we work in a safe environment for drivers, engineers, technicians and everyone involved in the race," said Brawn. It is about adhering to many things such as travel restrictions and distance rules, emphasized the former technical director of Ferrari. Nevertheless, Formula 1 wanted to continue to offer "the right show".
The first ten races of the season have had to be postponed or canceled. The wish for the racing series is a calendar with 15 to 18 of the originally planned 22 events.
Does Formula 1 stop in Germany? Emergency plans could help traditional lines to make a comeback
Update from April 28, 2020: In this year's Formula 1 racing calendar , a race in Germany was actually not planned. But the corona pandemic could help a traditional route to make an unexpected comeback, as the colleagues from heidelberg24.de * report. Because Germany is better off than many other countries in combating the corona virus, the makers of the racing series are considering a race at the Hockenheimring *.
Restart in Formula 1: Hockenheimring suddenly an option
The management of the race track confirmed the SWR's first discussions with Formula 1 about the option of holding a Grand Prix without spectators. However, since major events in Germany are prohibited until the end of August, no concrete negotiations have yet taken place.
First of all, it would have to be clarified whether a ghost race is even possible under the current regulations. Even without spectators, alongside drivers, engineers and mechanics from the ten teams, hundreds of other people would probably be needed to run a World Cup run. It is also unclear whether the racing teams, which are all based abroad, are even allowed to enter the country.
Michael Schumacher had some moments in his Formula 1 career that caused discussions. Now Nick Heidfeld criticized.
Update April 26, 2020: The Formula 1 is reportedly planning its restart on July 5 at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. According to the English tabloid "The Sun", the premier class of motorsport is said to have targeted a corresponding scenario . “We are hopeful and it would be a great start for the championship if it is considered safe. I know that Red Bull is doing everything it can to make the race possible, ”said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner quoted on Sunday.
According to business games, two Grand Prix will take place in Austria before two races are to be held in Silverstone. In all cases, you should drive without fans.
Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko recently spoke of the possibility that the regular Austrian Grand Prix would take place on July 5, before the second race could possibly be driven late Wednesday afternoon. "The signs indicate that the chances are very high," said Marko on ORF Radio Steiermark.
The Formula 1 rights holder is working on a program, "how to limit the number of people, that not the whole train, then it would have to arrive several thousand people". The team members could land on charter flights directly in Zeltweg near the race track. Austria's sports minister and vice chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) had already said that the government "at least is not in the way of a ghost race " .
Horner spoke of plans to limit, among other things, the number of team members on the racetrack to around 80 per racing team. If the health authorities and government officials then give the green light, Formula 1 would have a "starting point that others could follow," said Horner "The Sun".
Formula 1: Next GP cannot take place - Corona crisis causes chaos
Spa - The Corona crisis continues to have a massive impact on the Formula 1 * racing calendar. The race in Spa scheduled for August 30th cannot take place as planned, because in Belgium politicians also prohibit all major events until August 31st. The organizer confirmed this on Thursday.
All options are now being examined, said Vanessa Maes, manager of the Grand Prix, the Belga news agency: “Postponement, without viewers or cancellation. Nobody can say what it will be like in four and a half months. "
Formula 1: Nine of 22 races canceled or postponed
The organizers had long held the season opener in Australia in March - the cancellation was only given shortly before the start of the first race weekend. In the meantime, nine of the 22 races have been canceled or postponed . In order to be classified as a World Cup, at least eight races have to be driven. Is the driver threatening * around Sebastian Vettel * a mini World Cup? Nothing seems to be out of the question at the moment.
The plan to start the season in France on June 28th is unlikely to be adhered to . President Emmanuel Macron extended the exit restrictions in France on Monday evening, events "with a large audience" are prohibited until mid-July. The organizers of the Grand Prix want to "communicate in the coming days", what the new announcements mean for the event, said a spokesman for the AFP news agency.
Formula 1: Monza wobbles tremendously because of Corona - "we would need a miracle"
The race in Monza on September 6th is also questionable. "We would need a miracle : we are going through a phase of great uncertainty and we have to act with the greatest care," said Angelo Sticchi Damiani, Vice President of the FIA Automobile Association and organizer of the Italian Grand Prix, in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport:
“We have to understand how the situation is developing in the countries. We can no longer make mistakes like in Australia when the race was canceled when the people were in the Autodrom. It would be a disaster if we had to restart and stop Formula 1 again. ”
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