Vettel: Nobody likes to race in front of empty grandstands
Vettel: Nobody likes to race in front of empty grandstands
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.
"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."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 Chinese Grand Prix weather forecast - latest today from Shanghai
- 19 minutes ago
Hamilton dealt China blow after major FIA decision as Ricciardo given huge Horner warning - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
F1 team unveil star-studded lineup in China
- Yesterday 23:12
F1 Qualifying Today: Chinese Grand Prix 2024 start times, schedule and TV
- Yesterday 22:27
Horner delivers threat to Ricciardo over Red Bull pressure
- Yesterday 21:57
F1 Sprint Race Today: Chinese Grand Prix 2024 start times, schedule and TV
- Yesterday 21:27
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860