Yes they are desperate. No races, no TV money, no payout for the teams. The entire sport is at risk of going belly up if they don't hold races.
"Any cloud has a silver lining". Since it's no a sport anymore, but a business, F1 will have to survive on its merit. The whole structure could be reviewed, IMO, and this could be the occasion.
Crossed my mind more than once. Can’t see manufacturer interest being maintained even though F1 is a relatively small part of their overall budget. If it manages to stay alive, it could be an entirely different animal than what we know now.
Former Pirelli boss brands Formula 1 ‘desperate’ https://www.planetf1.com/news/former-pirelli-formula-1-desperate/
Unfortunately,... my beliefs align with Paul Hembery's sentiment more than the cheerleader press releases coming from Liberty Media.
TODT: WORST CASE SCENARIO WOULD SEE FORMULA 1 BECOME ‘SUPER FORMULA 2’ https://www.grandprix247.com/2020/04/30/todt-worst-case-scenario-would-see-formula-1-become-super-formula-2/ Formula 1 would be forced to undergo a drastic overhaul if teams are lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic, says FIA president Jean Todt. A vocal proponent of cost reductions in the sport, Todt made it clear to Auto Motor und Sport about how he would respond in the “worst case scenario” of a 2020 season with no races, or multiple teams going under. “Then we would have to ask the holders of commercial rights questions of principle such as: What should Formula 1 of the future look like? In the worst-case scenario, Formula 1 as we know it today would no longer be possible. “With a cost cap of 50 million dollars without exceptions, nothing would be as it was. It would be a completely new Formula 1. A Super Formula 2.” Set to be introduced in 2021, F1’s cost-cap has been serious point of contention amongst the teams in the wake of the coronavirus. Already slashed from the original $175 million number to 145, many of the smaller teams want to use the current uncertainty to further balance the financial playing-field, while some of the bigger teams remain opposed. However with the number pushed by the “pro-reduction” faction believed to still be $100m, Todt’s proposal would represent a dramatic decrease for all.
British GP is ‘not a slam dunk’ warns Pringle https://www.planetf1.com/news/british-grand-prix-chances/ Formula 1 wants to head to Silverstone after racing in Austria but circuit boss Stuart Pringle has warned that hosting a British GP is “not a slam dunk”. Earlier this week F1 chief Chase Carey revealed his plans to get the 2020 season underway. The Liberty boss wants to start in Austria with a double-header in July before moving to the United Kingdom to race at Silverstone. That too would be a double-header and, like Austria, it would also be run without an audience. But while Pringle is in favour, he concedes there is still a lot to be decided before Silverstone can say for definite that it will host a grand prix. “There’s a lot of detail to work through still,” he said in interview with Motorsport.com “I think we need to be quite careful, and it’s not just what we can or can’t do in this country, it’s how does that fit with a season? “Because they’re not going to want to start something that they can’t conclude. “Clearly there is will on everybody’s part to find a solution that works. But there’s still some work to do. “This is not a slam dunk.” Silverstone will need to adhere to government restrictions meaning no mass gatherings with Pringle saying behind closed doors is the only way Formula 1 will be permitted to race. He added: “The situation in the UK is we’re not legally allowed to run a public event and it doesn’t look like that’s going to change any time soon, and certainly not within the planning timescale that we need to put the race on. “The British GP is the biggest sporting event in the UK, and although we’ve got a lot of permanent infrastructure, a lot of temporary stuff has to go in, and that takes a long time. “So with a heavy heart we’ve said we can’t run the British GP in front of the crowd. “We’ve always said we’re up for looking at that, and from a Silverstone perspective, it should be doable bBut it totally depends on where we get to as a country, and the rules in place at the time, and what the government has to say about it. “The good news is that at the weekend the department of digital, culture, media and sport indicated that they’re going to sit down with sporting bodies and get the medical officers to look at what might need to happen for sport to restart behind closed doors. “We are part of those conversations, together with Motorsport UK, and we’re looking to see what we want to do, ie have the potential to run a Grand Prix behind closed doors, and how that could be achieved in a way that’s compliant with any criteria that they set.“In the meantime we remain in dialogue with F1 on whether or not Silverstone is a suitable venue for one of their European races to take place behind closed doors, if we can meet that all-important government bar, wherever its set, in terms of testing, etcetera.”
Rational response from Pringle. This is a very early planning effort for a no fans race. Nothing is sorted at all.
While F1 may be a small (even tiny) part of the overall budget, when revenues go negative, that small part is always disposable.
In the absense of F1, what about compensating by watching a street race mostly downhill, with plenty of curves, public watching "Mille Milla style", and a very very low budget?
Hope springs eternal. https://fr.surveymonkey.com/r/2020Formula1CanadianGrandPrix?camefrom=EMCL_3284089_156707719
I answered the survey. They are optimistic as in planning a race with audience. Then again by fall this might all be forgotten.
How do they plan to host a GP with fans and adhere to "strict hygiene and social distancing measures"?
I answered as well. From the survey,... can it be assumed the organizers are thinking,... with fans or not at all? Does this tell us something about Liberty Media's willingness (and ability) to help organizers financially?
That’s a very strange survey. Are F1 that concerned that they have lost their fan base? I would have said that was a minor secondary consideration to what restrictions will be in place around the world by then impacting on global travel and also locally and how they could possibly meet them.
Yawn ..... reporters need something to write about, officials like to hear themselves speak, and readers like to gossip The world still turns, and F1 will not go away.
Wish it had sugar on it. Something like “Including 20 chances to tour the track on the parade lap with a Formula 1 driver!” Providing ‘strict hygiene and social distancing measures’ were in place of course. Plenty of room in a 100-6....
Good point. Of course what we want (pit walks, touring the track, meeting the drivers etc) is the exact opposite of what social distancing is all about.