• Sainz-McLaren. "We will be an open book"
  • Ferrari: pessimism and its consequences

The wait, since the last tests in Montmeló, has lasted 125 days, but Formula 1 will become tomorrow the first major sporting event on a planetary level to recover activity after the pandemic. Its 20 cars will roll from 11:00 in the first free practice session of the Austrian GP, ​​the first appointment on a calendar where only eight races have been confirmed in Europe. No one knows for sure what can happen during these 10 weeks, much less what to expect next. The panic to any positive by Covid-19, dragged from the one that caused the cancellation of the Australian GP in March, is still very present in the paddock . The worst would be feeling perfectly fine and not being able to run because you got infected in some way. It would be a horrible feeling, "he commentedCarlos Sainz hours before landing yesterday at the air base attached to the Red Bull Ring.

“There is a possibility that someone will test positive and that the entire team will be immediately out, at least for the 24 hours it takes to confirm the test results. If all this happens on a Saturday morning, for example, it will no longer give us time to qualify for the race ”, predicted Cyril Abiteboul , director of Renault. To minimize risks, the International Federation (FIA) has developed a strict protocol for isolation and emergency measures.

His endless meetings with Liberty Media, the company that owns the business, the local authorities and the circuits have been translated into an 81-page manual titled Back to the races , where all possible scenarios are collected. The essential goal has been to avoid a cancellation like Melbourne's and design a health bubble. Or rather, several bubbles within the bubble. In the circuits there will be neither spectators, VIP guests, nor sponsors, nor anyone who is not essential for the show to go ahead.

It takes twice as long to change the engine

The first requirement is that anyone with access to the paddock or pitlane has shown a negative on Covid-19 before traveling to the circuit. Once there, they will undergo tests every five days and will maintain social distancing measures. So pilots, when they remove their helmets, should immediately put on the mask. “Everything is going to be very different, especially when it comes to the work of the engineers in the car. Only a few will be able to do it at once, so I suspect it will take twice as long to change an engine, ”said Andrew Green , Racing Point technical director. The EPI suits in the garages and the pilots' meetings by telematic means will be some of the constants of the new normality.

The teams must cope with a maximum of 80 workers and give up their motorhomes , where they had all the comforts. In its place, some U-shaped cabins have been installed, built with three containers, which will serve as a rest area. An austere solution in these times of crisis as an alternative to the gigantic and luxurious facilities of the recent past.

Inside the garages, the separation will be even more pronounced, so that Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc , close enemies at Ferrari, will not even have the option of crossing their eyes. For the moment, the four-time world champion, as reported by Motorsport , has not hesitated to give up the usual luxury of hotels to settle in a caravan in the vicinity of the Red Bull Ring. At the moment, the arrival of the pilots on the track, the same Thursday, was marked by a tremendous downpour that seems to further complicate the forecasts over the weekend.

In the same way, some of the most deeply rooted traditions of this sport will be eliminated, such as the pilot parades on Sunday morning or the podium ceremony. To replace champagne and hymns, the FIA ​​has considered various options. "One of them could be that the three cars lined up on the track and the drivers stopped in front of them," said Ross Brawn , F1 sports director.

It is an unprecedented setting, so each point will be crucial.

Carlos Sainz

If all this plan goes ahead during the first two appointments in Austria, you will have to collect the gear and travel by road the almost 500 km that separate Spielberg from Budapest. From there, a much more committed transfer to Silverstone. "Normally we traveled on commercial flights, but now we must operate on charters, with takeoffs and landings at private terminals to avoid any possibility of contagion," explained Joanna Jones , head of Mercedes in the travel area. "The main challenge will be dealing with the restrictions imposed by each country," added Jones, referring to the two weeks of quarantine imposed by the British Government.

A banner with "Welcome to Spielberg" at the entrances to the circuit.AFP

According to the FIA ​​regulations, a championship can only be considered as a World Cup if it spans three different continents. So, once the start in Europe and the epilogue in the Persian Gulf are assured, the move to America seems crucial. However, the outbreaks in Austin (Texas) and the critical situation in Brazil do not bode well for the fall.

"We don't even know how many races we are going to do. It is an unprecedented scenario, so every point we can get is absolutely crucial, ”admits Sainz, determined to consolidate McLaren as the benchmark for the middle of the grid before finally sitting down in his Ferrari. "Our preparation for Austria has been based on the balance between building enough spare parts and the development of the car itself," added its boss, Andreas Seidl , aware of the difficulties of the 63-day closure at the Woking factory and the changes derived from the tightness of the calendar. The main objective will be to put a car on the track that will make a difference soon, because the rivals will not have time to rectify the design or mechanics.

For this reason, Max Verstappen is shaping up to be a severe threat to Lewis Hamilton , who aspires to equalize Michael Schumacher's seven titles and break his record for wins (91). "I expect a very tight battle with Red Bull," predicted Toto Wolff , head of Mercedes, regarding an opponent that the last two seasons already scored the victory on his own circuit. During the February tests, Hamilton was the one who could complete the most kilometers, but the W11 engine failed up to five times. The negative note in Montmeló carried the signature of Ferrari, the only team that did not improve its records compared to the previous year.

Hamilton's commitment

Lewis Hamilton, who did not miss a massive rally against racism in London last week, will perhaps be the main focus of the weekend in Austria. The world champion of Oaxaca has started contacts with his 19 companions, who will assess tomorrow, during their usual meeting on Fridays, the possibility of kneeling before the start of the race. "If we do it, we will all do it, like a united grill," said Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz's teammate at McLaren. "We will do whatever it takes to show concern and respect," stressed the young Briton. Hamilton's endeavor has already paid off through the #WeRaceasOne campaign, driven by Formula 1 to fight Covid-19, inequality and racism. As part of this initiative, all cars will wear a small rainbow as a symbol of unity in the fight against these social blots.

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Know more

  • Max Verstappen
  • Sebastian Vettel
  • Michael Schumacher
  • Lewis Hamilton
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