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Hakkinen warns: 'Multiple races on one circuit can be frustrating'

19:51, 22 Apr 2020

byGPblog.com

At the moment the focus is on Austria and the United Kingdom for the start of the Formula 1 season. There is a real chance that several races will be driven on one circuit, so that the season will still take shape. According to two-time world champion Mika Hakkinen this is an interesting angle, but it is more complex than it seems.

Plan whatever you want

The problem is that, from a hypothetical point of view, an awful lot is possible, but reality can continuously throw a spanner in the works. Because the global situation is too unclear because of the coronavirus, you can plan what you want; it gives no guarantee of passage. This is what the Finn states in the Inside Formula One podcast.

"You can certainly put many different scenarios on paper: how to start the season, when, with how many races... Personally, I think it's hard to plan anything," says the Finn, "You can plan as much as you want, but there is still no vaccine for the coronavirus. That's the biggest problem."

Silverstone

Another point that Hakkinen rightly points out is that teams may discover during the race at Silverstone that they can't get along very well. Something that doesn't have to be on another circuit. In that case you as a team won't be happy if you have to drive a few more races on the circuit.

"If you have problems as a team at Silverstone, you won't be happy if you have to drive three races there. In view of this prospect, some teams might even consider whether it is worthwhile to drive at all in Silverstone".

"Anything can happen in a Grand Prix, even if you haven't qualified in a good position. But if you know that your car won't be fast, it can be frustrating", concludes the Finn who takes another look at the current points of discussion.

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1 Comments

Stuart Bennett 23 April 2020 at 09:59+ 57

Some very good points by Mika. Have been having some of the same and think 2 races should be max for 1 circuit. Like Mika says if an inherently bad car at a particular circuit you'll be penalised several times over. Again 2 races could cause the same problem but at least not as bad. Idea for 2 races though to possibly even things out a little is to not run the same tyre compounds for each race. Use 1,2&3 for race one and 3,4&5 for the 2nd or a mixture but only one the same for each race. May stop a race winner fine tuning to win by a further distance next time out and change result at the back as well.