Race director confirms how 'lockdown' F1 will work

Formula 1 race director Michael Masi has spoken positively about the attitude and cooperation of the all parties involved in securing the green light for the Austrian Grand Prix.

Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Vodcast prior to the official confirmation that the race would be going ahead, Masi couldn't speak highly enough of those involved in the organisation of what is now the 2020 season opener.

“Thankfully, the team at the Red Bull Ring and Project Spielberg have been amazing to work with," said Masi. "They have had a desire from day one to make this happen. They have always had a can do attitude at the best of times. They have been brilliant.

“Everything that we have needed, required – and working with the Austrian government to make this happen, without them and their support at both the FIA and the F1 Group, the target of Austria on the fifth of July is becoming more and more a reality by the hour.”

Masi continued by explaining how certain things will work in the paddock, describing teams as 'family units' who will not be allowed to mix across weekends.

He added: "Key elements of what we are looking at is that each team and each entity will act as a family unit, so no different to each of us at home with our family members. We can work with them and socialise with them closely.

"Effectively, each team will be a much broader family unit, but the other parts that we’re aware of and the way this pandemic has evolved, is that social distancing, teams interacting will be something that we won’t see.

“Even things down to drivers meetings having to happen over zoom, to try to minimise the risk for the entire paddock, and to try and keep us as resilient as possible in going through, and not having a repeat, or minimising a repeat, of what happened in Melbourne.”

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