#F1 2020 News Round Up – Latest from the week. @F1

We take a look at the big news of the latest in the world of F1 in 2020 that has happened throughout the week.

 

 

F1 2020 News – 2021 Rules and Regulations postponed until 2022

 

Following an unanimous agreement between sport’s governing body, the FIA, F1 and the teams, the Technical Regulations due to take effect in 2021 have been pushed back a year until 2022.

 

All parties further discussed the current situation of the 2020 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season and how the sport will react to the ongoing challenges created by the coronavirus outbreak.

 

Due to the volatile financial situation Formula 1 finds itself in, it was agreed that the teams will use their 2020 chassis for next season, with the potential of further components to be frozen and negotiated in due course.

 

 

The introduction of the Financial Regulation cost cap will still come into effect next campaign and continued discussions remain with the FIA, F1 and the teams regarding further ways to make huge cost savings.

 

All ten outfits have expressed their support for the FIA and Formula 1 in their effects to restructure the 2020 FIA Formula 1 World Championship calendar as the ongoing global situation of CONVID-19 develops.

 

All of these commitments will be referred to the relevant governing structures for it’s final ratification.

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F1 2020 News – Monaco GP cancelled, Dutch and Spanish GP postponed

 

 

For the first time since 1954, the legendary Monaco Grand Prix will not go ahead after the Automobile Club De Monaco (ACM) announced the cancellation of this year’s event and also the Dutch and Spanish Grands Prix were postponed.

 

The Formula 1 Grand Prix De Monaco 2020, scheduled for May 21-24, has been held every season since 1955, having begun in 1929. The Historic Monaco Grand Prix, which is held a couple of weeks ahead was also cancelled.

 

You can see the ACO statement here:

 

“The current situation concerning the worldwide pandemic and its unknown path of evolution, the lack of understanding as to the impact on the FIA F1 World Championship 2020, the uncertainty with regards to the participation of the teams, the consequences with regards to the differing measures of confinement as taken by various governments worldwide, the multi-border restrictions for accessing the Principality of Monaco, the pressure on all implicated businesses, their dedicated staff who are unable to undertake the necessary installations, the availability of the indispensable workforce and volunteers (more than 1500) required for the success of the event means that the situation is no longer tenable.”  You can read the full Automobile Club De Monaco statement at the following link: https://acm.mc/en/automobile-club-de-monaco-en/press-release/

 

The Dutch Grand Prix, set to return at Zandvoort and to the Formula 1 calendar for the first time since 1985, was scheduled from May 1-3, with the Spanish a week later and Monaco on May 21-24.

 

But with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation, both Dutch and Spanish Grands Prix have been put on hold and the FIA put out a statement saying:

 

In view of the continued global spread of COVID-19 and after ongoing discussions with Formula 1 and the three promoters, it has today been confirmed that the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix 2020, Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix 2020 and Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix 2020 will be postponed.

Due to the ongoing and fluid nature of the COVID-19 situation globally, the FIA, Formula 1 and the three promoters have taken these decisions in order to ensure the health and safety of the travelling staff, championship participants and fans, which remains our primary concern.

The FIA and Formula 1 continue to work closely with affected promoters and local authorities to monitor the situation and take the appropriate amount of time to study the viability of potential alternative dates for each Grand Prix later in the year should the situation improve.

The FIA and Formula 1 expect to begin the 2020 Championship season as soon as it is safe to do so after May and will continue to regularly monitor the ongoing COVID-19 situation. Credit to FIA for the quote. https://www.fia.com/news/fia-formula-1-dutch-spanish-and-monaco-grands-prix-be-postponed

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F1 2020 News – Summer shutdown brought forward due to coronavirus outbreak 

 

 

Formula 1’s traditional summer break has been brought forward and extended due to the coronavirus outbreak.

 

The break, which is normally two weeks in August when the teams cease all race and car related activity for the full 14 days, with the revised hiatus this year extended to 21 years.

 

A statement from the FIA said:

 

In light of the global impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus currently affecting the organisation of FIA Formula One World Championship events, the World Motor Sport Council has approved a change to the 2020 FIA Formula 1 Sporting Regulations, moving the summer shutdown period from July and August to March and April and extending it from 14 to 21 days. All competitors must therefore observe a shutdown period of 21 consecutive days during the months of March and/or April.

The change was supported unanimously by both the F1 Strategy Group and F1 Commission. Credit to the FIA for the quote. https://www.fia.com/news/f1-changes-formula-1-summer-shutdown-period-approved

 

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Ferrari support FIA and F1 to bring forward summer shut-down

 

 

Ferrari supported the FIA and Formula 1’s decision to move the shutdown, writing in a statement:

 

Scuderia Ferrari, whose staff, along with millions of people in Italy and around the world, is having to deal with the Covid-19 virus pandemic, fully supports the FIA and Formula 1’s decision to bring forward the usual summer shutdown. Scuderia Ferrari will therefore be shut as from tomorrow, Thursday 19 March, up to Thursday 8 April inclusive.

The priority for the team has always been the safety of its employees and their families, which is why, for several days now work in the Maranello facility has been suspended, replaced where possible by a smart working system.

We are just as disappointed as our fans that we cannot be racing, as we have done for over 70 years, but when confronted by a situation as serious as this one, it is vital that we follow the advice of the authorities and limit all activities as much as possible in order to contain the virus as efficiently as possible. We will wait for the situation to improve so that we can return to normality, in our daily lives as well as in sport, including motor racing. In the meantime, our thoughts are with everyone affected by the virus and those working on the front line to combat it.

Maintaining our distance, but still united, this virus can be defeated. Credit to Ferrari for the quote: https://www.ferrari.com/en-AU/formula1/articles/press-release-scuderia-ferrari-mission-winnow

 

The Scuderia team have also been held for two weeks in quarantine since returning from Melbourne and Ferrari have donated $10 million to help fight the coronavirus pandemic in Italy courtesy of the Agnelli family.

 

Rivals Aston Martin Red Bull Racing have chosen to shutdown from March 27 for a three-week period and Alfa Romeo Racing from March 23-April 13.

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F1 and Coronavirus Update from Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey

 

After a few announcements on Thursday about race cancellations and postponements, the 2021 rules delayed until the 2022 campaign due to COVID-19, Formula 1 CEO provided an update on the current situation:

 

Following a meeting convened today between Formula 1, The FIA and all ten Formula 1 Team Principals I wanted to provide an update on what was discussed and agreed.

During this exceptional time and following several race postponements and the World Motorsport Council’s (WMSC) unanimous decision to move the Formula 1 Summer break forward to March and April, we and the FIA discussed with the teams the need for extra flexibility to accommodate a rescheduled season once the COVID-19 situation improves.

At the meeting there was full support for the plans to reschedule as many of the postponed races as possible as soon as it is safe to do so. Formula 1 and the FIA will now work to finalise a revised 2020 calendar and will consult with the teams, but as agreed at the meeting the revised calendar will not require their formal approval. This will give us the necessary flexibility to agree revised timings with affected race promoters and to be ready to start racing at the right moment.

In addition, as announced by the FIA, it was agreed unanimously at the meeting that the implementation of the Technical Regulations due to take effect from the 2021 season will be postponed until 2022. Due to the currently volatile financial situation this has created, it has been agreed that teams will use their 2020 chassis for 2021, with the potential freezing of further components to be discussed in due course. The introduction and implementation of the Financial Regulations will go ahead as planned in 2021.

We are all very grateful for the collaborative nature of the discussions and fully united approach from all parties to get racing in 2020 as soon as the current global situation subsides. Formula 1 remains fully committed to launching a 2020 season as soon as possible.

Best wishes,

Chase

Credit to F1.com for the statement: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.f1-and-coronavirus-an-update-from-formula-1-ceo-chase-carey.7vTr3aVCnWnHjmSdQs2KiD.html

You can also read Mr. Carey’s apology and open letter to fans from Tuesday March 17 at the following link: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.an-open-letter-to-f1-fans.7sNrDtYF24DAsWqyij1UbU.html

 

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Morning chaos as #F1 @ROLEX @ausgrandprix 2020 called off. #AusGP