Vettel: Nobody likes to race in front of empty grandstands

Formula 1

Vettel: Nobody likes to race in front of empty grandstands

F1 is looking at plans to hold grands prix behind closed doors

Ian Parkes

Saturday 18 April 2020 09:58 Updated: 11:06

Sebastian Vettel feels Formula 1 faces a "compromised" start to the new season, with the four-time champion expressing reluctance at the prospect of 'ghost races'.

It would appear for F1 to finally get up and running this year, following the cancellation or postponement of the opening nine grands prix, and with more on the cards, any race will need to be behind closed doors.

Ferrari star Vettel has confirmed the Grand Prix Drivers' Association [GPDA], of which he is one of three directors, has discussed "a fair amount" as to how F1 should finally return to the track.

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"It's a very, very difficult one," said Vettel. "It's a tough decision. On the one hand, you have the health of the sport, if you look at it from a business aspect.

"On the other hand, you have the responsibility for the working people inside the paddock, and of course, most importantly, the fans.

"It's a sport that is carried out in the open, but we have a lot of people that come to watch our races. We need to make sure that as much as we are taking care of ourselves, we are taking care of the public.

"There are a lot of options you can think of, in terms of how to get going again, what's the best format to start racing again, whether it's without fans, with fans, ghost races.

"Nobody likes to race in front of empty grandstands. I think it feels a bit odd. The question is, when is the right time to start racing again and whether a ghost race could be held a lot sooner rather than a race the way we are used to it. I don't know."

While Vettel concedes it is "painful" he is not racing, he recognises the current situation is a horrible one being faced by all.

"What we would all like is to get back to normal, but not just for Formula 1's sake, but for everybody's sake, the whole world," added Vettel.

"As I've said previously in this regard, the best prescription is to be patient

"It is painful because I want to get back in the car, and if I'm selfish, I want to race, but there are a lot of people that would like a lot of things right now given the situation they're in. I don't have a perfect answer.

"Probably, at the very beginning, the first couple of races will be a bit compromised compared to what we are used to.

"Hopefully not too much because we want to race in a way that we are all familiar with, meaning in front of fans and with an atmosphere, and so on."