Silverstone 'ready' for race double header in 2020 calendar shake-up

Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle has confirmed that talks have taken place over a potential Formula 1 double header at the circuit, but stressed that the races will only take place if the government decide that it is safe to proceed.

Formula 1 bosses are frantically scrambling to pull together something resembling a calendar, and Pringle told The Guardian that all options are being considered.

“We have discussed all sorts of permutations including hosting two races over one weekend and two races over consecutive weekends,” said Pringle. “I have complete confidence in our ability to put on these events. We have a lot of experience, a lot of knowledge, we can turn that on definitely.

“F1 has been working very hard to try and work out what the solution for the world championship is. We have been in regular contact with them, and have been asked could we hold a race or two and could they be behind closed doors. The answer is absolutely, we are open to looking into anything and everything.”

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With several European countries extending a ban on large scale events to the end of August, plans to hold grands prix before September appear to be more than ambitious.

There is hope that behind closed doors races would be permitted under current government regulations, but Pringle says that racing can only return when it is safe to do so, and in a way that would not encourage the public to stop following social distancing rules.

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“It’s important any discussion of a return to racing is appropriate,” he added. “Otherwise we risk being a distraction to the main message which is stay at home and we don’t want to do that.

“I think F1 will make a calendar-wide decision in the earlier part of May. They can’t set this ball rolling unless they have a solution that stands a fighting chance of running successfully over multiple races. That timescale would suit us if we didn’t have to put in the infrastructure for accommodating the public.”

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