F1 managing director Ross Brawn has confirmed that the eight opening races will not have the traditional podium ceremony, drivers’ parade and part of pre-race grid programme.
As we get closer to the start of the 2020 F1 season in Austria in July, we are getting more information regarding the changes to be seen, which will make the viewing a lot more different than the usual, especially regarding pre and post race programmes.
Starting with the pre-race situation, F1 will not have the usual grid programme which includes national anthem and also drivers’ parade, as they cannot have all the drivers and also the team member together in the same place at the same time.
“Because of the implementation of the procedures, we need to be safe and sure of the COVID-19 situation,” said Brawn. “The practises we have had in the past just can’t be done. The very packed grid that was a feature of F1 racing just can’t happen.
“So every aspect from the time teams arrive to the time they leave has been thought through and it’s not completely finalised, but we’re working with the FIA to polish it. Things like the national anthem, you can’t have all the drivers grouped together and you can’t have our FIA Future Stars stood in front of them.
“The FIA Future Stars will still be part of the show virtually. They will have the uniforms sent to them and they’ll send us videos of them with a message which we can play so there are lots of things we can do to make it entertaining.
“The drivers’ parade won’t happen as we can’t put 20 drivers on the back of a truck and take it round the track, so instead we will interview with each one of them in front of the garage. There’s plenty of ways we can engage without compromising health and safety.
“I’m 100% confident that we will make it an engaging and exciting product, it will just be different. This is the new norm. How long will this carry on? We don’t know, but this will be the new norm for the rest of the year for sure,” summed up Brawn.
Additionally, as the F1 noted in one of their earlier updates, the post-race podium celebrations won’t be the same either as they will not have dignitaries presenting trophies. Brawn stated that they are looking to do something on the track itself.
“The podium procedure can’t happen as it does now, but we’re looking at doing something on the grid after the race,” said Brawn. “One option would be to line the cars up on the track and the drivers will stand in front of cars.
“We can’t present the trophies, as you can’t have someone in close proximity presenting a trophy, but we have worked it out, we have plans and procedures, we’re looking at how we can present it on TV.”
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