Grand Prix of Austria can go on 'as long as it keeps to the guidelines'
F1 News
- Thierry Bakker
Now that the French Grand Prix will most probably also be postponed, we are now looking to the beginning of July and the Austrian Grand Prix for the official start of the F1 season 2020. This is partly due to the attitude of the Austrian government, which is still open for the continuation of this event.
Austrian government doesn't want to stand in the way of Grand Prix
"We don't want to stand in the way of a Grand Prix", those are the words of the Austrian Sports Minister Werner Kogler during a press conference on Austrian television. He refers to his willingness to help the organization of the Grand Prix as much as possible, as long as the event is able to adhere to the guidelines.
"In the end, the sports federations have to make this decision themselves. We will support the motor sport organisations with the right guidelines and then we will see what can go on and what can't".
Kogler gets the impression that the organization of F1 is willing to let the race on the Red Bull Ring continue. According to him that's fine if it's legally possible. "I don't want to interfere, I just want the existing rules to be applied.''
Guidelines will not be prematurely
"What's important to us is that the distance rules apply. And at some point, of course, it will be a matter of how many people come here, because tens of thousands are less favorable than thousands, I think. Because with every number, the chance of something going wrong increases."
Minister of the Interior Karl Nehammer assures the public that all security measures are observed and that the strict guidelines currently in force will not be relaxed until this is justified.