Formula 1: Will the season end this year?

The Formula 1 is at a standstill because of the coronavirus pandemic. Nobody knows what will happen next. But of course, there are considerations.

Formula 1 is facing a historic season. The coronavirus has a strong impact on the premier class of motorsport. The first eight races of the season have already been canceled or postponed.

Of course, everyone is hoping that the season will start at some stage and will not go as it did in 1939: At that time, the championship was canceled after the Grands Prix of Belgium, France, Germany, and Switzerland because of the outbreak of World War II. The champion never decided. Even today, scholars argue about whether Hermann Paul Müller (Auto Union) or Hermann Lang (Mercedes-Benz) would have the right to be called champion.

The regulations are clear: you need at least eight races to be able to win a world championship. There are currently 14 events on the calendar, some of the postponed eight GPs will be held eventually. For this purpose, the summer break was moved forward from August to March and April. In addition, the racing events could be compressed from three to two days – so that you can drive on more consecutive weekends.

“We are in constant communication. Together with the other team bosses, I am aware of how difficult the situation is, ”Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto told Sky. “As for the calendar, we give Chase Carey and the FIA ​​all the freedom they need under the circumstances.”

In the meantime, the idea has arisen to extend the World Cup until January 2021. Binotto says: “As a team, we have to show maximum flexibility. If this gives us a more complete 2020 championship and the new season doesn’t start before March, we would be very open to that. ”

One thing is clear: there are still a few questions that need to be clarified. For example, what happens to the drivers whose contract expires at the end of 2020? This is the case for 14 out of 20 pilots. Only Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Max Verstappen (Red Bull), Lando Norris (McLaren), Esteban Ocon (Renault), Sergio Pérez (Racing Point) and George Russell (Williams) also have a contract with their teams in 2021.

Usually, the contract ends at the end of the year on December 31st. This also means that many drivers who change teams are only allowed to test for their new employers in the new year – and not after the season finale in December. 

In any case, when it starts, however, many questions have to be answered: How many engine parts are available to the individual drivers for the season, for example?

If there are significantly fewer races, the individual events will be more important. Driving errors or defects than have a much more blatant effect than in a championship with 20 or more races …