FORMULA ONE bosses are gearing up to finally launch the new season — as Lewis Hamilton said it left a “big void” in his life.
Chief executive Chase Carey yesterday claimed that the sport is “increasingly confident” of getting started despite June’s French Grand Prix becoming the 10th race to be postponed due to Covid-19.
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Lewis Hamilton has spoken of the ‘big void’ the lack of racing is having on his lifeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
It was confirmed July’s British GP at Silverstone will be behind closed doors, providing the Government give the OK.
Six-time world champ Hamilton said on Instagram: “I miss racing every day. When you live and breathe something you love, when it’s gone then there is definitely a big void.
“This is the first time since I was eight that I haven’t started a season.”
Sun Sport revealed on Sunday how F1 chiefs identified the Austrian GP on July 5 as a start date.
Carey said: “Although it was announced that the French Grand Prix due to take place in late June will not be going ahead, we are now increasingly confident with the progress of our plans to begin our season this summer.”
Silverstone supremo Stuart Pringle has written to ticket holders to break the bad news that they will not be allowed in.
However, he is working with F1 and the Government to find a solution for it still to be staged and shown on TV.
He added: “Racing behind closed doors is something for the government to decide but it was very encouraging that the Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport indicated over the weekend that they were keen to start a dialogue between medical officials and people in sport.
“We are working with F1, DCMS and medical professionals to see if we can put a British GP behind closed doors.
“This is the 70th anniversary of F1 and the first race was at our track. We want it to happen at our circuit but the logistics and costs are being worked on.”
Pringle revealed Silverstone would be dishing out free tickets for the 2021 British GP to NHS staff and key workers.
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Lewis Hamilton urges people to wash their hands to avoid catching contagious coronavirus
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
