Mattia Binotto, the team principal of Scuderia Ferrari, says the 2020 F1 season could be extended into next year with races taking place in January.
The opening eight grands prix of this year have been called off due to the coronavirus pandemic and as things stand the next scheduled race on the 2020 championship calendar is the Canadian GP on 14 June in Montreal. However, Canada is also under threat of being postponed or cancelled.
Last week Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey issued a statement saying “when the situation improves, we’ll be ready to race” and it’s hoped that the 2020 calendar could feature between 15 and 18 races.
Carey said: “While at present no-one can be certain of exactly when the situation will improve, it will improve and when it does, we will be ready to go racing again. We are all committed to bringing our fans a 2020 championship season.
“We recognise there is significant potential for additional postponements in currently scheduled events, nonetheless we and our partners fully expect the season to start at some point this summer, with a revised calendar of between 15-18 races.”
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‘These are decisive moments’
The 2020 championship was scheduled to finish with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 29 November. However, Chase and now Binotto have suggested that the season will be extended.
Chase said: “As previously announced we will utilise the summer break being brought forward to March/April to race during the normal summer break period, and anticipate the season end date will extend beyond our original end date of 27-29 November, with the actual sequence and schedule dates for races differing significantly from our original 2020 calendar.”
In an interview with Sky Sports Italia, Ferrari boss Binotto added: “We’re assessing various ideas – races closer together, maybe doing two or three races in January, cancelling [Friday] practice.
“I have felt, along with the other team principals, that these are decisive moments. We’ve decided to give complete freedom to [Chase] Carey and the FIA to put together as soon as possible a timetable for us to get racing again, we are willing on our side.”
Main picture: the Ferrari garage at 2020 F1 pre-season testing in Barcelona (Image: Mike Starling/Sports Tourism Media)