Just as it appeared Formula 1 was making progress in getting the 2020 season underway, multiple races are now facing new challenges.
Earlier this week, Liberty Media announced initial plans to hold a regional calendar of between 15-18 races, starting in Europe before slowly heading East then hopping to the Americas before closing in the Middle East.
The starting place for this epic round the world dash is set to be Austria’s Red Bull Ring, which is likely to hold two races on July 5 and 12.
However, while the government is tentatively supporting the plan for a closed-door event, that could still change.
“The following was important to me: that the rules were followed in the same way there and that the operators of this race get all the information they need for it,” Austria’s Vice-Chancellor and Sports minister Werner Kogler told TV broadcaster ORF. “We have already submitted a few things, the information from the Ministry of Health.
“One only has to point out that the difficulties there are perhaps less in social distancing than that entry and exit regulations have to be taken into account and that this is a larger group that arrives here.”
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F1 is planning to reduce the risk by requiring all personnel to be tested and gain certification of a negative coronavirus test, while an app is also reportedly being proposed to monitor those present in Spielberg.
“Authorisation to stage the event depends entirely on the security plan that the organisers present,” health minister Rudolph Anschober told was quoted by AFP.
“We will only allow such events under very strict conditions and of course, I think it goes without saying, without a crowd.”
After Austria, F1 then hopes to hold another double-header at Silverstone also in July.
Recently circuit boss Stuart Pringle said he was optimistic about talks with the government to allow sporting events to happen behind closed doors, however…
“There’s a lot of detail to work through still,” he said, speaking to Motorsport.com.
“I think we need to be quite careful, and it’s not just what we can or can’t do in this country, it’s how does that fit with a season? Because they’re not going to want to start something that they can’t conclude.
“Clearly there is will on everybody’s part to find a solution that works but there’s still some work to do. This is not a slam dunk,” he concluded.
The Hungarian GP would then follow in early August with two races also being considered there.
However, on Thursday, the event at Budapest received a blow after all public events were banned until August 15, forcing the Hungaroring to adjust.
“The Hungaroring team has been regularly liaising with Formula 1 — the series’ international rights holder — to explore all possible ways to stage the 35th Formula 1 Magyar Nagydij in front of fans, however, in light of this decision this is unfortunately no longer possible,” a statement said on Friday.
“The health and wellbeing of all our fantastic Formula 1 fans, staff and championship participants has been and remains our primary concern throughout this period and with that in mind, we have regrettably been left with no choice but to reach this conclusion.
“We have continuously emphasised our willingness to work towards a safe solution that would allow us to welcome the entire Formula 1 family to the Hungaroring this August but it is now evident that any F1 race in Hungary can now only be held behind closed doors.”
Looking further ahead to October, doubts are growing over the Japanese GP at Suzuka after organisers stopped ticket sales this week.
A positive sign though is one race is at least keen to go ahead as planned and with a crowd, Sochi.
“We are determined to hold the Russian stage with an audience on the dates approved by the Formula 1 calendar and continue to prepare for the seventh Grand Prix in the history of the country,” organisers told sports publication Championnat.
“If circumstances so require, they are technically ready for an alternative. In this case, the contractual obligations may be slightly different.
“At the moment, no such proposals have been received from Formula 1. We would certainly like to keep the dates from September 24 to September 27, 2020.”