Chase Carey has ruled out Grands Prix being canceled if a driver or other team member tests positive for the corona virus during that weekend. On Tuesday, when the provisional calendar was announced, the Formula 1 boss also emphasized that he still hopes that 15 to 18 races can be run this year.
At the initial March season opener in Australia, a McLaren team member tested positive for the coronavirus, after which the entire team retreated to the race. In the end, the entire Grand Prix was canceled after long deliberations, but such a scenario will soon be excluded.
“A positive test from an individual will not lead to the cancellation of a race,” said Carey on the Formula 1 site. “We encourage teams to establish a protocol in case someone is infected, so that the person can be quarantined, so a replacement must be ready. “
“We have to study some scenarios further, because there is still much to think about. But one thing is certain: if a team is unable to race, it does not mean that the Grand Prix will be canceled.”
“We don’t want to put pressure on the calendar”
The first ten races of the season were all canceled due to the corona crisis, but Formula 1 came on Tuesday with a new provisional calendar that included eight races. The season starts in July with a double Grand Prix in Austria (July 5 and 12) and two races at Silverstone are planned.
Carey expressed his hopes in March that a total of fifteen to eighteen races can continue this year, and he is still behind it. “We are confident in that goal, although we are still in unknown waters. We want to have the calendar ready before the end of June, but we are not putting it under pressure.”
“A deadline creates a certain pressure that is not right now,” emphasizes the 66-year-old American. “We want to make sure we make the right decisions. Safety remains number one priority, so we are not tempted to make certain decisions too quickly.”
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