Evidently the Dutch Grand has already been scrubbed due to action by the Dutch Government, though there is hope it could be rescheduled to happen over the Summer Break (which I assume will not be enforced for 2020).
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2020 Formula 1 Season Thread
- Thread starter pachyderm
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Agreed. We really need to see what the global situation looks like at the end of April, IMO. I’m of the opinion this one is not seasonal. It’s all about the exponential effect and the volume of new daily cases in the end.
The thing about F1 is it’s not just the fans in the stadium. It’s the 100’s of employee’s travelling around the globe. Sharing the space with local sponsors and track staff etc.
Racing events at all levels wouldn't be possible without the local people acting as marshals and other track staff, who are unpaid volunteers, and not employees or part of the money machine.
"I risked life and limb to pull Vettel out of the sandtrap, and all I got was this lousy safety vest…and COVID-19!"
Former F1 head Bernie Ecclestone says the entire 2020 season should be cancelled.
His primary reasoning is that there is scant enthusiasm from sponsors.
His primary reasoning is that there is scant enthusiasm from sponsors.
While there is a belief COVID-19 will "cool down" in the summer, the season pushes deep into the Fall now with many of those races in the Northern Hemisphere and that is when and where there is a real worry COVID-19 could see a return.
So I could see the season just being cancelled. It would give the teams more time to prepare their 2021 cars to the new regulations.
So I could see the season just being cancelled. It would give the teams more time to prepare their 2021 cars to the new regulations.
I agree. Especially when you bring in the Norther Hemisphere Schedule. Personally, I’m looking at Covid-19 being an issue into this time 2021, if not longer. What‘s going on now is a practice run for this fall, IMO. I don’t see an effective vaccine within the next 12-18m. This one is showing some very unusual characteristics from what I’m reading.
These teams can recover from a canceled season (ok, maybe not Williams) with a minimal level of distress.
The new regulations have been postponed to 2022, and possibly pushed back to 2023.
In the interim, there has been a ban on their development, and a possible current engine freeze as well, to reduce costs.
Any racing that occurs within the next couple years will probably be with even lamer ducks.
It's already been decided a few weeks ago the new regulations won't be coming in until the 2022 season, only the pay caps in 2021. They'll be using this year's cars & engines next year.
Makes sense. With all the money already lost, it wouldn't be wise to wipe out millions more on the costs of developing this year's cars.
EDIT:
Here's the link.
ANALYSIS: What the 2021 rules delay means for F1 | Formula 1®
Now that the 2020 technical rules will be carried over into 2021 due to the global coronavirus pandemic, what are the implications for Formula 1 in 2020 and beyond?
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Given the current situation, I would prefer to forget 2020 entirely and continue 2021 where we left off in 2019. Just erase 2020 from F1 memory. No new cars needed, and no jam-packed season towards the end of the year without knowing hav CoViD-19 pans out.
Even if they had time for half the races, it's not enough to determine a true champion. I was planning on going to my second US Grand Prix this year, maybe next year!
Not when there should have been 22. Doubts and questions marks would always linger over the validity.
I think there are way too many in a season these days. Some of those tracks need to go.
Only is it wasn't Lewis Hamilton.
Let's be honest - it's safe to say that Mercedes would have been the dominant team - again - over a full 2020 season so it's also pretty safe to say it would have been a Mercedes driver as WDC (barring injury) and between Lewis and Valteri, it's pretty clear who is the better driver over the length of a season.
I think they will end up canceling the rest of the races and use the 2020 cars and rules package for 2021. Smaller teams can't afford to run a shortened season generating less than half the normal revenue, then scrap their cars and start over next year. They are better off just pushing it all back and basically treating this like a long vacation.
It sucks, but it's better than losing teams like Williams who can barely stay afloat
It sucks, but it's better than losing teams like Williams who can barely stay afloat
Unless they let Ferrari cheat again!Only is it wasn't Lewis Hamilton.
Let's be honest - it's safe to say that Mercedes would have been the dominant team - again - over a full 2020 season so it's also pretty safe to say it would have been a Mercedes driver as WDC (barring injury) and between Lewis and Valteri, it's pretty clear who is the better driver over the length of a season.
Quite possibly. But Max & Red Bull were making great strides last season.Only is it wasn't Lewis Hamilton.
Let's be honest - it's safe to say that Mercedes would have been the dominant team - again - over a full 2020 season so it's also pretty safe to say it would have been a Mercedes driver as WDC (barring injury) and between Lewis and Valteri, it's pretty clear who is the better driver over the length of a season.
I pointed out above that they've already decided to use this year's cars next year. Even if they do go ahead with some races.
Didn't help the last 12 seasons. Don't see why it would now.
Max had a good season, but he still won three times versus 11 for Lewis. And RBR, as good as they are, are not Mercedes - especially when it comes to having optimized for the current rules (plus RBR had to make chassis changes to switch from Renault to Honda which likely has certainly impacted their development trajectory a bit).
I hope it will be another title for Lewis & equal the record. And then hopefully break it after the major rule changes. But I do hope those changes make it much, much closer.