FIA warn F1 facing "a challenge" to welcome back fans this year

The FIA's new head of medical and rescue, Dr Paul Rea, believes it is "going to be a challenge this year" for Formula 1 to welcome back spectators.

F1's stated aim this season is to see fans at circuits again, although naturally in a safe and controlled manner, and dependent on the conditions at any given time in a particular country.

Silverstone, for example, is hoping for a full house across the British Grand Prix weekend due to the regulations that will be in place when the race is staged in mid-July.

Asked in an interview in the FIA's Auto+Medical magazine about the different requirement for each venue, Rea replied: "I think it is going to be a challenge this year.

"From a team's perspective, it should be more manageable this year because everybody's familiar with the protocols from last year.

"The other aspect to it as well is that the national guidelines from country to country have very much streamlined and are much more similar compared to last year because people have just had more time to get to grips with the guidelines.

"From an organiser's perspective, in terms of F1 and getting spectators, part and parcel of the sport is the spectators in the stands. But I think it has to be done in a safe manner that we don't risk everything.

"It's still going to be a challenge to bring spectators back into the sport but we'll see how the vaccinations go on as the season progresses and see how national governments relax their guidelines."

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