F1 News
British corona measures create major problems for seven teams
- GPblog.com
The modified Formula 1 season of 2020 is taking more and more shape as several countries celebrate their coronary measures. The start is in Austria and after two races they want to travel to Silverstone to drive another two races. This is very beneficial for several teams, as seven out of ten teams have their home base there. Still, nothing is certain, because the government is creating an impossible situation with the measures.
Exceptions
The rule that applies is that travellers from abroad must go into quarantine for fourteen days after entering the UK. This is in order to minimise any risk of the virus spreading. However, this poses a problem for Formula 1, as the staff concerned are not in a position to spend that period in quarantine.
Moreover, a British Grand Prix would be difficult in itself because it would follow the two races in Austria fairly quickly. With a mandatory period of quarantine there would be a bigger gap in the calendar and that would also cause difficulties.
Seven teams
However, there is an even bigger problem if exceptions cannot be made and it concerns the teams themselves. With seven teams based in the UK, everyone would have to go into quarantine for two weeks after each race, making it impossible to complete an entire season - albeit in a slimmed-down form. There is simply no time for that with a quarantine period each time.
A FOM spokesman at Reuters also stated that the measures are unnecessary because Formula 1 plans to travel like a controlled 'bubble'. This should considerably reduce the risk of the coronavirus. "We would be travelling back to the UK on F1-only occupied aircraft and all staff would be tested, making a quarantine totally unnecessary."