18 races in just 182 days
Formula 1 has to rethink its calender due to the coronavirus situation. There are already initial versions regarding a racing calendar which should start on June 7, in Baku. The teams and fans would therefore face 18 races in 182 days.
Very few people would like in the position of Formula 1 bosses Chase Carey and Ross Brawn right now. You have to steer a ship that is drifting aimlessly in the coronavirus chaos on the open sea without knowing where the journey is going or ending. The teams are not doing any better. The only thing that is certain is that all teams that have been in Melbourne will self-isolation and quarantine until March 28th.
When everyone starts working again on March 29, nobody knows for how long. All participants agreed that the summer break should be scrapped. However, governments may take action and order factory closures for everyone indefinitely.
Otherwise, the F1 management and the teams have agreed that each racing team can arrange a two-week shutdown with only 24 hours’ notice. As prescribed by the regulations in August. Only now each team can individually decide which two weeks the factory should remain closed.
End of season only in December?
By the end of this week, Chase Carey, Ross Brawn and the team bosses want to endorse their battle plan for the rest of the season. And the new calendar will only have a provisional character given the unpredictable situation. Given the dramatic Coronavirus situation in Europe, there is little hope that the races in the Netherlands, Spain and Monaco will go according to plan.
Formula One is already mentally preparing for a season start on June 7 in Azerbaijan. Afterwards, after a first consideration, a stress program with many double strikes and so-called “triple headers” is planned. If everything goes well, 18 races could take place in 182 days.
So Azerbaijan on June 7, Canada a week later. France and Austria as usual on June 28th and July 6th. The changes would could begin with the British GP. It is currently being checked whether the Spanish GP on July 26 can be squeezed between the races in Silverstone (July 19) and Budapest (August 2).
Four races in a row for the first time?
Another “triple header” was on the agenda at the end of August and beginning of September: The return of the Dutch GP could be postponed to August 23 at the end of the old summer break, directly ahead of Belgium (August 30) and Italy (September 6). Then it becomes difficult. Vietnam could find its new place before or after Japan. With both solutions, there would be four F1 racing weekends in a row.
The season end remains in Abu Dhabi, but may be postponed to December 6 by a week to make room for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Logistically, that would be child’s play. The two places are only 420 kilometers apart.
On the other hand, things look bad for the Grands Prix of Australia, Monaco and China. Melbourne and Monte Carlo cannot get new appointments at short notice. Setting up and dismantling the route takes at least six weeks each. In the case of China, it is not known when it will open its doors again. At the moment nobody feels much desire to travel to the country that has infiltrated the corona virus in the world.
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