Formula 1 Chief Predicts 2020 Season Will Likely Start In Europe ASAP

 

Formula 1 (F1's) Managing Director of Motorsport, Ross Brawn says the 2020 season will likely begin in Europe – and potentially behind closed doors – when it eventually gets underway, after the delay caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Allnews reports that on Tuesday, the Canadian Grand Prix became the latest race to be postponed because of COVID-19, the ninth race to be postponed or cancelled, with F1 bosses working with promoters to create a revised calendar for a time when it is possible to once again go racing.

Brawn said it was Formula 1’s desire to go racing as soon as possible – if anything to give fans some entertainment in difficult times – even if that means holding some of the initial events without fans.

“Travel for the teams and travel for everyone involved is going to be one of the big issues,” Brawn told Sky Sports.

“You could argue once we get there we could become fairly self-contained.

“Our view is probably a European start will be favourable and that could even be a closed event.

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"We could have a very enclosed environment, where teams come in on charters, we channel them into the circuit, we make sure everyone is tested, cleared and that there is no risk to anyone.

“We have a race with no spectators. That’s not great, but it’s better than no racing at all. We have to remember there are millions of people who follow the sport sat at home.

"A lot of them are isolating and to be able to keep the sport alive and put on a sport and entertain people would be a huge bonus in this crisis we have. But we can’t put anyone at risk.

“We’re looking at the organisational structure which would give us the earliest start. But also the ability to maintain that start.

"There’s no point having a start and then stopping again for a while. It’s most likely to be in Europe. It’s conceivable that it could be a closed event.”