Tuesday, January 05, 2021
"Unfortunately it's not over"
Formula 1 is trembling about its mega season
A quick return to normal is becoming increasingly unlikely for Formula 1. Not only the start of the season in Australia seems difficult to implement. The organizers on the one hand and the smaller racing teams in particular on the other are faced with further difficulties.
After reports of a corona-related postponement of the start in Australia, Formula 1 is threatened with further changes in the racing calendar. President Jean Todt of the world automobile association Fia expects that at least the first half of this year "will not be such that we can have a nearly normal season". The 74-year-old Frenchman also assumes "that we will hear a whole lot of possible changes in the various calendars in the next few days, not just in Formula 1," as he was quoted by several motorsport specialist portals.
It was only on Monday that there were reports that the planned first race on March 21 in Melbourne could not take place as hoped. This is due to the measures taken to combat the pandemic in Australia. The sticking point should be a 14-day quarantine for everyone involved. When the Grand Prix can be rescheduled later in the year is open. The negotiations are already underway, as the government of the state of Victoria announced. There is still no official confirmation for the postponement.
If so, Mick Schumacher's Formula 1 premiere year with the US Haas team could not begin until the end of March in the Bahrain desert. Actually there should be 23 races this year – more than ever before, even if again without a Grand Prix in Germany. But the plans for a return to normal with stops in Europe, Asia, North and South America, the Middle East and Australia seem too ambitious. "Unfortunately, it is not over," said Todt about the tense corona situation worldwide. "There are still lockdowns. The virus restrictions are there."
Millions of losses and fears of existence
The pandemic had already led to many changes in 2020. After the start of the season in Austria, which was several months late, there were only 17 instead of 22 races. It could only be driven in Europe and the Middle East. "I think 2020 was a great season with a lot of creativity," said Todt. It was possible to pull off a World Cup, but it led to losses of millions among the organizers and the fear of existence among the small racing teams. That's one of the reasons why there should actually be another world tour in 2021 and the fans should return to the track as soon as possible.
Media reports at the end of last year suggested that the Formula 1 management already has the promise of all countries that the entire entourage of at least around 1000 people may enter under special conditions. In the case of Australia, this does not seem to work yet, at least on the planned date. However, 23 races of the season could also offer the opportunity to cancel individual events at short notice if the pandemic is still not controllable. A buffer is also important from a financial point of view, because in 2020 the following was true: in order for the TV money to flow completely, at least 15 races had to take place.
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