The introduction of the new Formula 1 technical rules has been delayed from 2021 until 2022 due to the disruption caused by the global coronavirus outbreak. Formula 1’s bosses, the category’s teams and global motorsport governing body the FIA unanimously agreed the delay on a conference call earlier today (19 March).
The first seven races on the 2020 calendar – Australia, Bahrain, Vietnam, China, the Netherlands, Spain and Monaco – have already been postponed or cancelled before any of the new cars have turned a wheel.
This has left the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on 7 June as the new season opener and just 15 races scheduled to take place.
The decision to delay the new regulations – which mandate a complete overhaul of the chassis design but not the V6 hybrid powertrain in order to generate closer racing – is intended to soften the financial blow that the truncation of the 2020 season will inflict upon the ten Formula 1 teams. To the same end, development of some key elements of the chassis will be ‘frozen’ for 2021.
An FIA statement reads: “All parties further discussed the current situation of the 2020 championship and how the sport will react to the ongoing challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Due to the currently volatile financial situation this has created, it has been agreed that teams will use their 2020 chassis for 2021, with the potential freezing of further components to be discussed in due course.
“The introduction and implementation of the financial regulations will go ahead as planned in 2021, and discussions remain ongoing between the FIA, Formula 1 and all teams regarding further ways to make significant cost savings. All teams expressed their support for the FIA and Formula 1 in their ongoing efforts to restructure the 2020 calendar as the global situation regarding Covid-19 develops. All of these commitments will be referred to the relevant governing structures for final ratification.”
It was also agreed on today’s conference call that Formula 1’s organisers can bypass the usual consultation process with the teams in order to be able to make timely reschedulings and thus keep the number of races acceptable.
Race weekends may be shortened from three days to two, while Formula 1 motorsport boss Ross Brawn has suggested the possiblity of holding double-header events.
It had already been decided earlier this week that the sport’s summer break, originally pencilled in between the Hungarian and Belgian grands prix in August, will now take place before the start of the season in March and April.
In other news, it has been announced that Formula 1 teams are working with governments toward the possibility of them producing ventilators to treat people infected with Covid-19. The UK government recently announced that it’s discussing this possibility with some 60 UK-based companies.
An F1 spokesman told the BBC: “The F1 community is engaged in discussions with all the relevant stakeholders regarding this issue, and we will provide further details in due course.”
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