Ferrari will be open-minded on possible Grand Prix weekend formats as Formula 1 tries to salvage its 2020 season.
While the first eight races of the year have fallen victim to the coronavirus, on Wednesday, F1 motorsport director Ross Brawn claimed a 19-race championship could still be possible if racing can begin in July.
To do that, F1 is considering several options to reduce the workload on teams at each event but Ferrari, who are very keen to protect what they see as the ‘DNA’ of the sport, would need to be onboard.
“We know from the sporting regulations that to have a World Championship you need at least eight races, but everyone is trying to look for more than that,” team boss Mattia Binotto told Sky Sports. “I think what will be important for us is really to be flexible.
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“I’m pretty sure Chase [Carey, F1 chairman] and the teams will be capable of putting together the best championship we can have. From our side, we are ready for whatever is needed whether short race weekends, double races, whenever it will finish or packing the races together.
“It is important to be flexible and making sure we can have good races as well for the fans.”
But despite Brawn’s aspirations of almost a full season starting in three months time, the Ferrari chief is more cautious.
“I think it is very difficult to answer [when the season will start],” he said. “No one can really know it.
“F1 is certainly trying to organise the best season, maybe starting early July if that would be possible but we cannot have any confirmation at the moment, but I think by the end of May we will have a clearer picture.
“I think it is in the interests of everyone to start racing when we can, when that will be possible, and have as many races as we can but I think now it’s too early to have a clear picture of what will be the future.”
Offering his view, Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo thinks the potential for a regionalised season with two-day weekends is a reasonable plan but also believes F1 bosses should include the drivers in their talks.
“Yes, I think so,” he said. “We have the drivers’ association which we are all part of so we can communicate.
“They can reach us through that and vice versa we can all collectively go back and forth through this family that we have and we can quickly gather opinions and find solutions.
“If they present the option of a two-day weekend, that could work as opposed to three. I think us drivers would probably agree that’s a good thing if it means fitting more races in.”