The Formula 1 World Championship kicks off this weekend in Austria after several months of doubts and uncertainties. The Covid-19 crisis will not have the final word on a season that promises to be both busy and exciting.
Formula 1 fans have only a few days left to wait before experiencing a unique world championship. Unique for several reasons: first, the drivers will have only 5 months to stand out and crown a champion. Indeed, the coronavirus crisis delayed the first Grand Prix by 4 months, initially scheduled for March 22 in Bahrain. As a result, several races have been canceled, notably in China and France, which led organizers to schedule double events in Austria and Silverstone (UK). The historic Silverstone circuit will therefore have the honor of hosting two races over two consecutive weekends with the British Grand Prix followed by an official “70th Anniversary of F1 Grand Prix.”
As of today, 8 races are scheduled, all in Europe. 8 is the minimum number of races to crown a world champion. Other GPs are expected to be added subsequently, such as the one in Hanoi, Vietnam, and Zandvoort in the Netherlands. In total, between 15 to 18 races are conceivable until December. The weekends will follow one another, much to the delight of F1 fans.
An unprecedented world championship also because most races will take place behind closed doors. Monza, on September 6, will be no exception, strictly for health reasons.
A Crazy Summer
No summer break this year. On the contrary, no less than 8 races will take place from July 5 to September 6. The coronavirus pandemic has completely upended a calendar that aims to be tight, with races almost every week. Here is the schedule until September:
- July 3 to 5, 2020: Austrian Grand Prix (Spielberg).
- July 10 to 12: Styrian Grand Prix (Spielberg)
- July 17 to 19: Hungarian Grand Prix (Budapest)
- July 31 to August 2: British Grand Prix (Silverstone)
- August 7 to 9: 70th Anniversary Grand Prix (Silverstone)
- August 14 to 16: Spanish Grand Prix (Barcelona)
- August 28 to 30: Belgian Grand Prix (Spa-Francorchamps)
- September 4 to 6: Italian Grand Prix (Monza)
10,000 Tests for the Austrian GP
Caution will be key during this health crisis period. Each day, about fifty people will be tested. 10,000 PCR tests from the German laboratory Eurofins have also been transported to Spielberg. A negative test is mandatory to enter the work zone. “All the people working on the track, about 3,000 in the red zone, will only be able to enter their work zone with a negative result of fewer than four days,” explains Siegfried Schnabl of Eurofins to the APA agency. “We will be a group of about fifty conducting random tests. Every five days, everyone will have been tested.”
Hamilton Favorite, Verstappen Main Threat?
The overwhelming domination of the Briton Lewis Hamilton could once again be repeated this season with an ultra-performing car and a model teammate named Valtteri Bottas. But a certain Max Verstappen could very well defy predictions in this unique season. Young, spirited, capable of chaining races, not hesitating to overtake, the Dutchman is undoubtedly the man capable of defeating the six-time world champion. With three victories last season with his Red Bull, Verstappen finished the year in third place behind the two Mercedes, but ahead of the two Ferraris of Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc. With a Honda engine that continues to impress, the 2020 Red Bull could indeed create a surprise…
Of course, we must not forget the Ferrari drivers. Monegasque Charles Leclerc appears to be in a better dynamic than his teammate Sebastian Vettel, but the latter will have nothing to lose on the track, his venture with the Italian team ending at the end of the season.
Also worth watching is the SportPesa Racing Point, benefiting from a Mercedes engine and capable of shaking up the top three.
The 2020 Formula 1 season can be watched in its entirety on Canal+.
Tune in Friday for the first free practice session, Saturday for qualifying, and Sunday for the race.
