FORMULA ONE teams will stop working until the end of the month as they brace themselves for the coronavirus crisis.
Staff arrived back in the UK yesterday after the Australian GP was scrapped following McLaren’s withdrawal when a team member tested positive for the virus.
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The Australian Grand Prix was axed late onCredit: AP:Associated Press
F1’s managing director, Ross Brawn, says they will now redraw the calendar, using the two-week summer break, with the Azerbaijan GP now looking likeliest to be the season-opener.
He also said F1 would look at running two-day race weekend, as opposed to the current three-day format, to save time.
Brawn, who was anonymous all week in Melbourne until teams forced the race to be scrapped, broke the news through a cosy TV interview with Sky F1.
He said: “Maybe we take a hiatus, we take a pause – and then we use that opportunity to say ‘right, for this time at the beginning of the year, we won’t have any races, we’ll look at relocating those races later in the year’.
I think we can build a pretty decent calendar for the rest of the year. It will look different, but it will still preserve a good number of races.
Ross Brawn
“I think by freeing up the August break, we give ourselves several weekends where we can have a race.
“I think we can build a pretty decent calendar for the rest of the year. It will look different, but it will still preserve a good number of races, and they’re exciting races.
“So the season’s going to start later, but I think it will be just as entertaining.
“I’m pretty optimistic that we can have a good 17-18 race championship or more.
“I think we can squeeze them in, but it depends on when the season will start.
“One thing we have been talking about is two-day weekends, and therefore if we have a triple header with two-day weekends, that could be an option.”
Organisers of the Dutch and Spanish GPs are speaking with F1 about the prospect of now postponing their races.
Monaco too could go, although while that is a special race for owners Liberty Media, they don’t pay a race fee like all other circuits.
Coronavirus has severely disrupted the sporting calendar
Meanwhile, Ferrari say they will suspend all manufacturing production, including its Formula One operation, with immediate effect until the end of March.
Italy is the European nation hit hardest by the coronavirus outbreak and Ferrari say they will down tools and close their factories.
Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri said: “At a time like this my gratitude goes first and foremost to Ferrari’s women and men who, with their tremendous commitment over the past few days, have demonstrated the passion and dedication that defines our marque.
Our clients and fans are also top of mind for us at this time, as we prepare for a strong restart.
Louis Camilleri
“Together with our suppliers, they have ensured the company’s production. And it is out of our respect for them, for their peace of mind and those of their families that we have decided on this course of action.
“Our clients and fans are also top of mind for us at this time, as we prepare for a strong restart.”
Vietnam’s maiden race is among those KO’d by Covid-19Credit: Reuters
Questions will now be asked of F1’s handling of the debacle Down Under, despite Brawn having the audacity to praise the way F1 cancelled the season-opener.
Teams and fans were left waiting 12 HOURS from McLaren’s withdrawal for the event to be officially stopped.
But despite spectators queuing up to get into the track before it was called off, Brawn added: “I think we did a pretty good job of reaching the right conclusion with so many parties and so many stakeholders involved.”
Formula 1 fans show their anger as Australian Grand Prix is cancelled
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
