DECRYPTION
The 2020 Formula 1 season was due to start last March, in Melbourne, Australia, as every year. But the single-seaters finally stayed at the stand, due to the coronavirus crisis. The Australian Grand Prix was then canceled at the very last moment, after the withdrawal of the McLaren team, one of whose mechanics had been declared positive at Covid-19. Three months later, F1 will finally start on Sunday afternoon in Austria, but behind closed doors and under very strict sanitary conditions: wearing of the mask, physical distance of two meters and poles in the interview area. A unique device detailed by specialist journalist Margot Laffite on Europe 1, Friday.
>> Find all of Philippe Vandel's programs in replay and podcast here
Pilots and journalists under surveillance
"The organization has a duty of exemplarity. They must be irreproachable not to cancel the continuation of the championship. They also set up a new protocol, with groups and sub-groups. If a case is proven in a subgroup, it will be detached and F1 will continue with the other subgroups, "said Formula 1 reporter Margot Laffite on Culture Media on Friday . Eyes are all the more focused on F1 as it is the first international competition to resume its activity. The pilots are also under surveillance and must for example have lunch in groups of five people maximum.
Only six TV channels allowed
Canal +, which has been broadcasting Formula 1 since 2013, therefore had to adapt. The encrypted channel is one of six broadcasters to have been authorized, but only two journalists, Laurent Dupin and Franck Montagny, are on site in Austria. Commentators Julien Fébreau and Jacques Villeneuve were not allowed to go to the circuit. They stayed in France and will therefore have to comment on the Grand Prix in the cabin.
"It's complicated because when you're a commentator, you need to be in the paddock," regrets Margot Laffite. "We need to be in contact with people, even if they are obviously going to work from Paris by calling people on site. But that does not replace human contact." This restricted device could last during the first eight GPs of the season, which will take place exclusively in Europe until September 6. The rest of the season, which originally included 24 races, has not yet been rescheduled.
>> READ ALSO - Pierre Gasly, youngest French driver on a Formula 1 podium
This season, there will be three French drivers to follow (out of 20 drivers in total): Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri), Esteban Ocon (Renault) and Romain Grosjean (Haas).