F1 2020 Delayed: News/updates / is there hope :)

It's difficult to stay optimistic. Even when the virus is contained, I think some countries will maintain restrictions for a while.
Sporting events are not a priority in places ready to sacrifice their tourism income on the ground of safety.
As for F1, the financial fallout has to be expected. I presume many sponsors will desert motor racing in future.

 

488 Pasta

 

Who said Pirelli tyres are sXXt?

Think of the skid-marks...

 

Talladega Speedway won't work, Too much down force. Suspension would be bottomed out all around the track.

 

Nothing in Europe is in the middle of nowhere!

Here in Texas, you have to be a 6-hour drive from a big city to be in the middle of nowhere.

 

I know you're kidding, right? Please tell me it's so.
If they were to run on high banked ovals you surely don't think they'd be using the same spring rates and suspension parts.
If there were on the schedule, even the chassis would be designed differently to handle the loads.

 

'First two lines I agree. The third....not. Sponsors are going to abandon sports because of this anomaly?

I think not. They'll still need to advertise where the eyeballs and ears are.

 

The reason Indy car abandoned super speedways years ago.

 

Which were those? I don't recollect.

 

I tend to agree with you, but the new generation of F1 fans thinks differently.
They want a circuit to be near a well serviced international airport.
They want to have a choice of good hotels for comfort.
They want some amenities in the vicinity, restaurants, entertainment, etc ...
They also prefer to be near a large city to visit, or to do some shopping, etc ...
You don't have that in Silverstone or Paul Ricard.
The level of expectation has increased in the last 20 years; now attending a GP abroad is a complete package.

 

Do you think all the present sponsors will still be able to carry on as usual?
This crisis is deeply affecting the economy (in Europe at least) and putting companies out of business.

 

No, not all. Nothing new there anyway. Sponsors come and sponsors go all the time.
Anywho, you mentioned "motor sports" specifically. What about the other sports?
Are they about to lose sponors also? Again, I think not. Advertising agencies know how much exposure (my "eyeballs" and "ears")
sporting events (not just motor sport) afford and that's what whoever survives need to sell their products.

 

I mentioned motor sports, because that's what I am interested in.
Some F1 sponsors may not be around when the racing restarts.
Others may reconsider their involvement in future.
Same for constructors; this could be an occasion for some to review their participation.
Renault and Mercedes factories are closed, or have minimal activity; car sales have hit rock bottom in many countries, for instance.
Covid-19 could become a turning point in many ways.

 

I bet there are quite a few sponsors now who have told their lawyers to try to break their F1 contract obligations: ugly consequence of the race cancellations/delays.

 

Our Olympic team has been pulled from Tokyo, believe this is enough of a flag there won’t be a race in June.
Reschedule ?????
Doubt it. Having been to F1 races at Ile Sainte Helene in the early days, when it was held in late September, early October, trust me, you’ll need to bring your long Johns and toques. And you’ll still be freezing......;(.

 

Seb autographing a 488........

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Azerbaijan Grand Prix now officially confirmed as being postponed.

Next race on the hit list is the Canadian Grand Prix on 14th June - Also expected to be postponed/cancelled.
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/azerbaijan-gp-postpones-officially-coronavirus/4772278/

 

Some say next year Vettel could be autographing McLarens or Renaults ?

 

Possibly....

 

Indeed you got it.

BTW: I'm old generation of F1 fans but I'm also old, meaning I don't want to put up with inconveniences and hassles anymore, especially if the event is supposed to be fun. Nor would my wife, so convenience has become important.

 

Might be the only Ferrari he'll be autographing this year.

 

McLaren have two major young talents set to stay and unless Carlos does a seat swap with Seb I believe It will be a Ricciardo Vettel swap.

Surely Lewis is smart enough to know Ferrari would almost certainly not work for him, CF Alonso, Vettel.

 

With Montreal likely delayed there is no way France will allow the GP to happen. A new obstacle is now emerging, when a scenario is embarrassing no one wants to be the first one to step up onto the stage and frankly F1 is the most frivolous, unimportant thing right now. France is not a country in which Motorsport is approved of or popular right now...so to imagine that this country will be the one saying yes we will host the first GP of the year? No chance.
So expect GP's to keep falling off the calendar like dominoes...

 

I would agree with that. However that's why I'm baffled Baku postponed. I'm sure they have no qualms holding the race for those reasons.

At any rate, Russia will show the world how strong and unaffected they are and stick to their race.

 

Yes Putin is putting on this big show of everything being calm and normal in Russia now so he would relish hosting the first GP.