LONDON (Reuters) – Formula 1 kicks off the season in Austria this week. As a result of the COVID 19 pandemic, teams, drivers and fans have grappled with the “new normal”. Some changes are described in detail below:
NO SPECTATORS
The opening races of the season are being held behind closed doors for the first time without fans, sponsors, VIPs or guests and the number of admitted persons is limited. The teams may not have more than 80 employees (compared to the usual 130), with an operational core of 60. The atmosphere will be very different – the average three-day participation in a Formula 1 weekend is around 150,000.
PERSONAL PROTECTION
Anyone traveling to Austria must first take a negative COVID-19 test and then take a test every five days, immediately if symptoms appear. There will be temperature controls, social distancing and “bubbles in bubbles”, with the teams being socially isolated throughout the coupling bubble. There will be minimal interaction between teams and face masks will have to be worn by mechanics and engineers for much of the time.
DISTANCE BRIEFINGS
Most media meetings and press conferences are conducted online, via zoom, or otherwise. The paddock and the track are not accessible to the few media present.
NO MOTOR HOUSES
The paddock will look very different. The hospitality units of the palatial team “Motorhome” are not used. Instead, awnings and tents are set up behind garages to give team members more space under clearance guidelines, with the trucks moving further back.
GRID PREPARATIONS
Before the race, each team is limited to 40 people on the starting grid. The drivers will not stand together for the national anthem and the network process will be accelerated.
PODIUM
There will be no podium celebrations after the race. Formula 1 has yet to confirm details, but expects a formal award ceremony on the track, with the distance between drivers and existing trophies not being handed over by local dignitaries.
Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editor of Ken Ferris
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