GP Austria: A special start to the season 🎥
HELMET OFF, MASK ON With the first of two race weekends, Formula 1 starts the delayed 2020 season in Spielberg under special conditions. SRF1 commentators Michael Stäuble and Marc Surer analyze the starting situation. The two races at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, are the first in a significantly shorter and changed racing calendar, [...]
The two races at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, are the first in a significantly shorter and modified race calendar that Formula One has developed based on the current situation.
Crowded race calendar
Initially, eight races will be held at six different locations in Europe, including two triple headers. The races in Austria and Hungary, as well as in the UK and Spain, will each be held back-to-back. Further race tracks will be announced.
Formula 2, Formula 3 and Supercup also get underway
As part of these eight European Grands Prix, two rounds each (Saturday and Sunday) of the FIA Formula 2 (with Geneva's Louis Delétraz) and the FIA Formula 3 European Championship (with Jenzer Motorsport) as well as one race each of the Porsche Supercup (with Fach Auto Tech) will also take place on the atmosphere-free stage - spectators on site are in fact not allowed anywhere until further notice.
Everything is different
Additional security measures to protect against Corona will be introduced both at the race weekends and in logistics, for which DHL is responsible as the official logistics partner.
Measures taken to protect everyone involved include regular testing, wearing masks, regular disinfection of work materials and equipment, and "social distancing", i.e. keeping a distance from each other. There are also closed events without an audience and with reduced personnel.
TV experts take a stand
Who will be world champion? Is Ferrari's driver duo Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc bound to have a fight on their hands? And what can we expect in general from the Formula 1 season that starts on Sunday?
In the three-minute TV report above, SRF F1 expert Marc Surer - from home in Spain - and SRF commentator Michael Stäuble give their views.
Live on Swiss television
Even if they are not allowed to travel to the Formula 1 races, spectators do not have to do without - thanks to the direct TV broadcasts, which are fully guaranteed despite the restrictions. For once, the images and scenes from Spielberg will certainly be impressive even away from the race track.
Qualifying for the extraordinary and exceptionally late 2020 Formula One season opener can be followed live on Swiss television on SRF two on Saturday, July 4 from 2:25 p.m., and the race on Sunday, July 5 from 1:25 p.m., as well as on the Sport app.
Marc Surer as studio guest
Marc Surer is also a guest of Paddy Kälin on "Sportpanorama" on Sunday evening. In the studio, the former GP driver talks about the outcome and the special incidents at the Austrian Grand Prix. And then perhaps also explains why he was right or wrong with his predictions.