F1 has 'plans B, C, D' in place for record-breaking season

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says the sport has multiple plans in place in a bid to cope with the potential threat of the Covid-19 pandemic during the upcoming season.

Last year's campaign was curtailed to 17 races split across only six months between July and December, placing increasing strain on team employees with trips away for weeks at a time.

With the Australian Grand Prix already shifted to a November slot due to the policies of the local government in place rendering racing impossible in Melbourne, F1 has had to stay on its toes with regard to scheduling issues.

But there are contingencies for the coming campaign, as revealed by Domenicali, who said: “Everyone was thinking that this year would be easier, imagining that situation. It isn’t.

"The proof we are providing in terms of professionalism, structure, protocols in place has been very important to manage this situation.

"The number of races on the calendar - 23, which we cannot forget is the maximum number in the history of Formula 1 - is something that is a challenge.

"But we are confident this really can happen. Of course, we are fluid and flexible to be ready for other possibilities.

"We already have different plans – B, C, D – in place, but as you know very, very well, and I am totally transparent, today can be different from tomorrow.

"That’s why we are in contact with all the organisers every day. They are ready to organise the grands prix. Either with the public or no public, they are ready for it.

"But, of course, they need to respect the input of the governments, which we are very close to, and we respect what they decide to do with their countries and, therefore, we need to see how the situation evolves."

The calendar is still to confirm a race in early May after the event in Vietnam was dropped due to political issues in the country that was set to make its grand prix debut last season before the pandemic struck.

Portugal is pencilled in to fill the May 2 slot, something Domenicali has confirmed, but a second Bahrain race is another possibility should it be required.

“On Bahrain, as you know, there is a TBC date there," added Domenicali. "It would have been in Portugal. The reason why it is not Portugal is that the [Covid] situation is not closed yet.

"As soon as we will be able to announce something, it might be in the next days rather than the next months, we will inform. I have personal meetings this weekend to understand what [the details] are.

"One possible plan B would be Bahrain with a double race. There is nothing confirmed. It is for sure an option that is on our table for discussion.

"So far, I think the focus is to try to keep the calendar as it is. If it is true, then we need to be ready to change it. It is wrong to be the other way around."

Imola has already been drafted into the calendar with China a likely casualty of the Covid situation.

Domenicali insisted the race was not completely off the cards and could be kept in hand as a potential substitute further into the year.

"Of course, China is very important for all of us," he said. "But at this moment, we have received [instruction] from the government that up until the summer, they are not willing to have any kind of international event there.

"So then, we have got to consider China for the 2021 calendar in case there is a problem with a race that we need to change at the last minute.

"For sure, we really hope that the Covid situation, with the vaccinations in place, will help to stabilise the situation in the second part of the year.”

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