While the epidemic of coronavirus declining widely in the world, and particularly in Europe, the sport gradually picks up its rights. It is, for example, the case of the Formula 1 : the austrian government has given its green light, on Saturday, at the organisation of a Formula 1 Grand Prix in Spielberg on 5 and 12 July, saying the security conditions allow for the holding of these races, which will mark the start of the season 2020.
“The two races of Formula 1 on 5 and 12 July 2020 Spielberg, in Styria, will take place without spectators,” writes the ministry of Health in a press release, stating that “the organizers have presented a concept of security, professional and comprehensive” prevention against the outbreak of the new coronavirus. The government had warned that the project to launch the season at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, in the centre of the country, would only be validated if the organizers could provide all the guarantees of safety and hygiene.
“testing, and regular checkups”
“In addition to strict hygiene measures, the concept also provides for testing and regular checkups for the teams and all the other employees,” says the press release of the ministry. “The crucial element will be the close coordination between the organiser and the regional health authorities and local,” adds Vienna. The government hoped in particular that the event be held in ” closed circuit “, that is to say without contact with the outside, with the exception of the Austrians involved in the management of the race.
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The media in austria have referred to the organization of special flights to transport the teams, while the international air traffic will still be reduced for many weeks. Austria, which has recorded less than 700 deaths of the Covid-19, has gradually eased since mid-April, the restrictions put in place to combat the epidemic and has recorded no rebound of contamination.
The GP of Belgium could be maintained on 30 August,
” It is very important that the Formula 1 starts “, was pleased, on Saturday, Helmut Marko, one of the leaders of the team Red Bull, very active in negotiations with the austrian government. Winner of the 24 Hours of le Mans in 1971, he was himself a native of Graz, not far from the circuit. Novel, the holding of two races on the same track a week apart could reserve “surprises,” predicts a former pilot, allowing the teams to refine their settings from one test to another. Red Bull, who will be, so to say, home, won the last two editions of the Grand Prix of Austria with the Dutch Max Verstappen.
After the postponement of several races (Bahrain, Vietnam, China, the netherlands, Spain, Azerbaijan, Canada, the United Kingdom) or the cancellation of four of them (Australia, Monaco, France, the netherlands), the F1 hope to be able to hold all of his championship between July and December, even if the unknowns are numerous. The “plateau” of F1 could go after Austria Hungary neighbor, whose GP has always been planned for 2 August. It would then be expected on the Silverstone circuit (United Kingdom), but shall wait for the green light from british authorities who impose, for the time being, of the obligations of quarantine for people coming from other countries.
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According to the result of the scenario being considered, the GP of Belgium at Spa-Francorchamps would be held on August 30, also behind closed doors. The championship would conclude in December in Abu Dhabi and would be between fifteen and eighteen tests, instead of twenty-two, as originally planned. It will be organized by geographic areas (Europe in July-August, Eurasia, Asia and the Americas in September-October-November, Middle East in December). Among the sanitary precautions taken by the organizers are limiting the number of people on the paddock, of the health checks at the departure, arrival, and then every two days. The teams would be isolated from each other on the circuits, as well as the general public outside (flights, ground transportation, hotels).
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