F1 cancelled this year?

[IforB]

I really can't see any races happening this year. There is just too much uncertainty and no real plan for opening the world up following this thing. Once individual countries start to open up, then we may see international events start to reappear in a limited form, but even then I would guess they would be closed door events until this has well and truly blown over.

It is unfortunate and the impact to teams etc is massive, but I just cannot see it going any other way.

[craigjm]

I can’t see anything happening til Japan and then have maybe a 5 race championship but in reality I can’t see it happening at all

[df76]

Silverstone has freed up a weekend in late august. Claimed it was to accommodate WEC, but they aren’t visiting the UK now this year. Seems like an obvious reserve date for the F1 meeting.

[rider73]

hmmm now that would be a way to have all the motorsport series get a 2020 season - RACE THEM ALL AT THE SAME TIME ON THE SAME TRACK each weekend.......

yesssssssssss

[Petrus1983]

I think it would be easier, safer and financially more astute to cancel 2020 - however awful that is. Once a country gets over Corona are they really going to want a travelling circus of ‘000’s turning up from different parts of the world? Then you have the logistics of getting cars/equipment/crew to different places at unprepared times.

Also say if the Far East and Europe recover and are ready to go racing but America, South America and Africa now have it - are you going to cancel Project Pitlane and say “sorry guys, we’re not making ventilators as we’ve got a race to go to”?

[TheDeuce]

Brundle was saying on Sky F1 the other day that by far the most likely 'potential' F1 in 2020 would be a late in the year short season to a handful of European circuits. Basically, whichever circuits the teams can get to without relying on sea freight.

Makes sense, it's looking increasingly that the unofficial working date for restrictions to start being lifted is around the end of May, so by the time any sea freight can be organised, clear customs and arrive it would at the earliest be in to August. And even then, there will remain the possibility of second waves of CV breaking out.. It's a tough time to plan anything so far in advance.

If the teams can drive to each race, they don't need 2 months notice, they can make it happen logistically at relatively short notice. It's also more affordable for the teams than a grand world tour - which I'm sure will be a factor.

Silverstone has to be the safest bet for a 2020 GP as 7 of the 10 teams are already local. Then, tragically, I suppose Paul Ricard is also a candidate

[Clockwork Cupcake]

TheDeuce said:

Brundle was saying on Sky F1 the other day that by far the most likely 'potential' F1 in 2020 would be a late in the year short season to a handful of European circuits. Basically, whichever circuits the teams can get to without relying on sea freight.

Makes sense, it's looking increasingly that the unofficial working date for restrictions to start being lifted is around the end of May, so by the time any sea freight can be organised, clear customs and arrive it would at the earliest be in to August. And even then, there will remain the possibility of second waves of CV breaking out.. It's a tough time to plan anything so far in advance.

If the teams can drive to each race, they don't need 2 months notice, they can make it happen logistically at relatively short notice. It's also more affordable for the teams than a grand world tour - which I'm sure will be a factor.

Silverstone has to be the safest bet for a 2020 GP as 7 of the 10 teams are already local. Then, tragically, I suppose Paul Ricard is also a candidate

Sounds reasonable / plausible / feasible.

I can't see it being enough for a championship though. I think the best we can hope for is a few non-championship exhibition races.

[TheDeuce]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

Sounds reasonable / plausible / feasible.

I can't see it being enough for a championship though. I think the best we can hope for is a few non-championship exhibition races.

Which is better than nothing and fine by me

That said, if they really are desperate that 2020 should still be 'a championship season'.. it wouldn't be that hard to double up at some circuits and technically achieve 8 GP's. Depends how desperate Liberty and the teams get. If the powers that be really do want to go racing and have a 2020 championship, they can even change the rules to make it count - albeit at the cost of devaluing the worth of the championship.

Crazy times, crazy things can and will happen.

[df76]

Could they run double header meetings at four venues, with two shorter races at each?

[df76]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I expect that there’s something in the “rules” that would halt it, and they’d never agree to the reverse grid. But would be great.

Bahrain and Abu Dhabi would be a relatively easy winter double header, with a small number of autumn European rounds. Whether they’d be any spectators is another issue.

[Petrus1983]

Double headers imo are fine in junior categories but for F1 totally looses the spectacle of the event.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

I think it would be preferable for there not to be a WDC this year as whoever wins it would be forever accused of not having "earned" it. Doubly so if it were Hamilton who won it.

By all means have a WCC though, for apportioning of budget etc., if absolutely necessary. But no WDC.

[df76]

Petrus1983 said:

Double headers imo are fine in junior categories but for F1 totally looses the spectacle of the event.

Has it happened in F1 before then? I can’t recall, so not able to form a judgment.

Double headers work great in F2 and think it’s been done recently in IndyCar.

[ukaskew]

Petrus1983 said:

Double headers imo are fine in junior categories but for F1 totally looses the spectacle of the event.

I think we're somewhat beyond worrying about spectacle, it's likely that races will be behind closed doors if they do happen at all.

[Drumroll]

ukaskew said:

I think we're somewhat beyond worrying about spectacle, it's likely that races will be behind closed doors if they do happen at all.

depends on how restrictions are lifted (different countries will apply different criteria) One problem will be fire tender, medical cars, rescue units etc need to be manned at all times and that will place people in close proximity for long periods at a time. Most race controls again are nearly all close proximity work.

Added to that some countries may deem motorsport too dangerous of an activity to be carried out (like New Zealand have, apparently)

[Teddy Lop]

TheDeuce said:

Brundle was saying on Sky F1 the other day that by far the most likely 'potential' F1 in 2020 would be a late in the year short season to a handful of European circuits. Basically, whichever circuits the teams can get to without relying on sea freight.

Makes sense, it's looking increasingly that the unofficial working date for restrictions to start being lifted is around the end of May, so by the time any sea freight can be organised, clear customs and arrive it would at the earliest be in to August. And even then, there will remain the possibility of second waves of CV breaking out.. It's a tough time to plan anything so far in advance.

If the teams can drive to each race, they don't need 2 months notice, they can make it happen logistically at relatively short notice. It's also more affordable for the teams than a grand world tour - which I'm sure will be a factor.

Silverstone has to be the safest bet for a 2020 GP as 7 of the 10 teams are already local. Then, tragically, I suppose Paul Ricard is also a candidate

if things get clearer (and better obvs) in June you could still have 3 months for European racing and organise the freight for 3 months of flyaways for right up into christmas. Lot of people want to talk it down but nobody really knows yet.

[Gazzab]

I can’t believe anyone thinks there will be any racing this year. The virus is going to see lockdowns across the globe (with some releasing and retightening going on), different countries in different statuses at varying times, lack of predictability etc etc. There is simply no way we will see international sports events this year. They need so much planning, permissions, infrastructure, travel, money, close human interactions etc Suspect this will potentially disrupt and delay next years races as well.

[Thundersports]

Double headers might work at some circuits like Silverstone with there different layouts available?

[ajprice]

Canada postponed http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/52191975

[sc0tt]

ajprice said:

Canada postponed http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/52191975

I had canada booked return and then ascot. Bad day for my plans. First world problems i know.