Silverstone could ‘absolutely’ hold two races behind closed doors
Silverstone is “absolutely” open to holding consecutive races to accommodate Formula 1’s disrupted schedule says circuit manager Stuart Pringle.
As F1 works to rebuild a semblance of a calendar for the 2020 season in anticipation of a relaxing of the UK’s COVID-19 lockdown measures, the sport is thinking out of the box to get its campaign in gear sooner rather than later.
Among the potential plans are two-race weekends or consecutive races at a venue, various scenarios that Silverstone is already working on.
“We have discussed all sorts of permutations including hosting two races over one weekend and two races over consecutive weekends,” Pringle said, quoted by The Guardian.
“I have complete confidence in our ability to put on these events. We have a lot of experience, a lot of knowledge, we can turn that on definitely.”
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Austria’s sports minister open to double closed race
However, any double dose of British Grand Prix at the Northamptonshire track would likely take place behind closed doors. But Pringle insists he is open to such a precondition.
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“F1 has been working very hard to try and work out what the solution for the world championship is,” Pringle said.
“We have been in regular contact with them, and have been asked could we hold a race or two and could they be behind closed doors.
“The answer is absolutely, we are open to looking into anything and everything.”
The French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard is likely days away from an official cancellation, putting Austria on pole as F1’s curtain raiser.
The Red Bull Ring which is owned by the energy drink company is also in the midst of devising a series of contingency plans.
“A catalog of measures is now being drawn up under which conditions a grand prix – a grand prix without an audience, a so-called ghost race – could take place,” Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko told Der Standard.
“We are hopeful. The signs indicate that the chances are very high.”
Over at Silverstone, Pringle is expecting more clarity on the future in a couple of weeks.
“I think F1 will make a calendar-wide decision in the earlier part of May,” he said.
“They can’t set this ball rolling unless they have a solution that stands a fighting chance of running successfully over multiple races.
“That timescale would suit us if we didn’t have to put in the infrastructure for accommodating the public.”
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