Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has defended the push to start the Formula 1 season in Austria, calling it a “marker in the sand”.
While the first nine races have already been cancelled or postponed due to the coronavirus, in recent weeks the event at Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring has emerged as the expected opener, with a double-header touted on July 5 and 12.
Given the situation in countries like the UK and Italy, where nine of the 10 teams are based, some have been sceptical of those plans, but Horner insists it is right to try and get back racing.
“We are hopeful and it would be a great start for the championship if it is deemed safe to do so. I know Red Bull are doing all they can to facilitate the race,” he told The Sun newspaper.
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“If the medical authorities and government agree, then it would give us a starting point that others could follow on from.
“Obviously a lot of research has gone on into how a race could be hosted without fans and the minimum amount of people in attendance.
“Procedures would be put in place, including testing with team numbers reduced to around 80 people.
“But it is always important to have a target, even in times of uncertainty like these. If you have no target in life, then things just drift,” the Briton noted.
“The global crisis is bigger than our sport, but if you put a marker in the sand and say, July 5th is the starting point, if things change and get worse, they can always be changed.
“At this point in time and where we sit, it is a positive target for the sport to have and if it needs to alter that, then there is plenty of time in which to do so.
“It [the circuit] is all set up and ready to go. It is just a case of flicking the switch. It is a bespoke facility all geared up for F1.
“I think the Red Bull Ring has the ability to react quicker than any other circuit in the world.”
At this point, the drivers too are becoming increasingly restless as they wait to get back on track.
“There’s obviously a push for a season to happen with the right circumstances,” Daniel Ricciardo said on a Sky F1 Vodcast.
“If that means some of it or the start of it, is behind closed doors – from my side, so be it.
“As a competitor and not racing since November-December, all I want to do right now is go racing and so as soon as we’re all clear to go…
“Of course, with a crowd it’s nice, but if we can still race without, I’ll take that any day.”