Season start at Silverstone in July 'very optimistic' - Webber

  • Published on 04 Apr 2020 11:45
  • comments 2
  • By: Coilin Higgins

Former F1 driver Mark Webber believes that a July start for the 2020 season is an optimistic target for the sport.

The new season has been put on hold due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic across the world, with the opening eight races either cancelled or postponed.

F1 hopes to start the season with the Canadian Grand Prix in June, but organisers of the event are expecting to make a decision on the fate of the race in the middle of the month.

Similarly, organisers of July''s British Grand Prix scheduled for July is set to make a decision by the end of the month, but Webber, who won the race in 2010 and 2012 doubts the race will go ahead.

“It’s a ginormous headache because Formula 1 is an extraordinary, fast-moving business,” Webber told Precision Hydration.

“It’s a global sport, freight is an issue and logistically it’s one of the most challenging sports. They’re looking at around July but I still think that is very, very optimistic.”

Two-day weekends a 'good idea' for 2020 season

Despite the delayed start for the season, Webber is in favour of a possible two-day weekend format, believing it could help the sport with the time constraints it's now facing.

Webber, who won nine races during his time with Red Bull also believes that the current situation that F1 now finds itself in is the perfect opportunity to try out some formats and play around with the usual three-day weekend.

“Formula One, with the travelling circus and even TV which requires huge production teams, faces a big challenge,” Webber added.

“They’re looking at condensing the weekends to two days from three days and I think that’s a great idea to help get some events in without rushing them through.”

The best-case scenario for containment of the pandemic is end of July, for most of the world. The availability of the vaccine is by the start of 2021. Most importantly, the economy has to come back to its feet, which might take another 6 months to 1 year. I still don't see anything more than 4 ra... [Read more]

  • 1
  • Apr 5 2020 - 00:22

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • Very optimistic indeed !

    • + 0
    • Apr 4 2020 - 21:33
  • The best-case scenario for containment of the pandemic is end of July, for most of the world. The availability of the vaccine is by the start of 2021. Most importantly, the economy has to come back to its feet, which might take another 6 months to 1 year. I still don't see anything more than 4 races ( in rich cities of course ) for F1 this year, starting from September.

    • + 1
    • Apr 5 2020 - 00:22

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country AU
  • Date of b. Aug 27 1976 (48)
  • Place of b. Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia, AU
  • Weight 0 kg
  • Length 1.84 m
Show full profile
show sidebar