Two of Formula 1’s most notable gatherings won’t be taking place this year due to the coronavirus, Ross Brawn says.
First, the usual procedure of the cars and mechanics flooding the grid before the start of each race has been temporarily stopped to meet social distancing measures.
Instead, the drivers will head out on track from the garage shortly before the formation lap is due to start at 10 past the hour.
But: “We will interview with each one of them [the drivers] in front of the garage. There’s plenty of ways we can engage without compromising health and safety,” Brawn told Formula1.com on how they intend to do usual pre-race media.
“I’m 100% confident that we will make it an engaging and exciting product, it will just be different.
“Things like the national anthem, you can’t have all the drivers grouped together and you can’t have our FIA Future Stars (grid kids) stood in front of them.
“The FIA Future Stars will still be part of the show virtually. They will have the uniforms sent to them and they’ll send us videos of them with a message which we can play, so there are lots of things we can do to make it entertaining.”
More notably, there will be no podium ceremony after the race, where mechanics usually gather underneath to celebrate and dignitaries hand over the trophies.
“The podium procedure can’t happen, but we’re looking at doing something on the grid after the race. One option would be to line the cars up on the track and the drivers will stand in front of cars,” Brawn said.
“We can’t present the trophies, as you can’t have someone in close proximity presenting a trophy, but we have worked it out, we have plans and procedures, we’re looking at how we can present it on TV.”
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All this is just part of F1’s wider effort to return to the track safely next month in Austria and beyond.
“Because of the implementation of the procedures, we need to be safe and sure of the COVID-19 situation,” Brawn stated. “The practises we have had in the past just can’t be done.
“So every aspect from the time teams arrive to the time they leave has been thought through, and it’s not completely finalised, but we’re working with the FIA to polish it.
As for how long the measures will be in place…
“This is the new norm,” he added. “How long will this carry on? We don’t know, but this will be the new norm for the rest of the year for sure.”
