Formula 1’s Managing Director Ross Brawn says championship organisers are giving serious thought to running two races at some venues, a week apart, due to the challenge of organising a revised schedule.
Formula 1 is on an extended hiatus due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, with the opening half of the campaign effectively scrapped.
Seven of the 10 planned grands prix to be held across March, April, May and June have been postponed, with Australia, Monaco and France cancelled altogether for 2021.
Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey announced earlier this week that the sport is aiming to return with July’s Austrian Grand Prix at a behind-closed-doors Red Bull Ring.
A revised schedule is due to be issued as soon as possible.
Brawn, speaking to the new official Formula 1 podcast, confirmed recent rumours that the sport is looking at doubling up to host a couple of races at planned first venues Red Bull Ring and Silverstone.
“It’s a real consideration because one of the logistical challenges is getting everyone tested and cleared to enter the paddock, to enter the racing environment,” Brawn said regarding the consideration of two races at one venue.
“I think once we do that it’s very attractive to keep everyone in that environment, within that biosphere, for another race.
“It’s also pretty challenging to find the right races early on where we can control the environment well enough.
“Austria fits that bill very well. It has a local airport that people can charter planes to. It’s not close to a metropolis, it has the right infrastructure around it, in that there’ll be no motorhomes but there’ll be a full catering facility laid on that the circuit has.
“We can basically contain everyone within that environment and therefore once we’re there it’s appealing to have another race the following week.”
Brawn added that trying to organise a 2020 championship is “a massive logistical challenge, as you can imagine, because running an F1 race is a big challenge anyway, running an F1 race in these circumstances is new to all of us.
“We’re working our way through all the requirements to make sure we operate in a safe environment for the drivers, engineers, technicians, for everyone involved, and we put on the right show.
“It’s important to get the season going, for many reasons, one is obviously to excite the fans, we’ve all been frustrated by the delays and it’s also a very important livelihood for thousands of people.”
