Formula 1 extends summer shutdown into May

F1

The Formula 1 summer shutdown period has been extended from 35 to 63 days

An empty podium at the 2020 Australian Grand Prix

DPPI

Formula 1’s annual summer shutdown will now run into May after the FIA announced the World Motor Sport Council had agreed to extend the original period of 35 days to 63.

In addition, power unit manufacturers will also observe a longer period of shutdown, with the initial 35-day shutdown now stretching out to 49 days.

Teams are already amidst a shutdown period that was extended at the beginning of April, and will now face almost a full month of time added onto the existing time frame.

It has also been clarified that teams can employ 10 members of staff to continue work on projects that have a long lead time while the shutdown is in effect upon written request to the FIA.

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“The World Motor Sport Council has approved a further extension to the shutdown period for competitors and Power Unit manufacturers in the FIA Formula One World Championship in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” an FIA statement read.

“All competitors must now observe a shutdown period increased from 35 to 63 consecutive days during the months of March, April, May and/or June. 50 days after the start of their shutdown period, upon application by a competitor, and subject to the prior written approval of the FIA, each competitor may use the services of a maximum of ten personnel to work remotely on long lead time projects.

“The shutdown period for Power Unit manufacturers has been extended from 35 to 49 consecutive days during the months of March, April, May and/or June. 36 days after the start of their shutdown period, upon application by a Power Unit manufacturer, and subject to the prior written approval of the FIA, each Power Unit manufacturer may use the services of a maximum of ten personnel to work remotely on long lead time projects.”

F1 recently announced tentative plans to begin its season in July with a behind-closed-doors event at the Austrian Grand Prix, and the shutdown extension is the latest move to fit as many races into the 2020 season as possible.

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F1 chief executive Chase Carey revealed earlier in the week that F1 is working on a 15-18 race season, with the revised schedule including stints initially in Europe before Eurasian, Asian and American races follow ahead of a Middle Eastern double-header to end the season in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.

“We expect the early races to be without fans but hope fans will be part of our events as we move further into the schedule,” said Carey.

“We are now increasingly confident with the progress of our plans to begin our season this summer.

“We will publish our finalised calendar as soon as we possibly can.”

The French Grand Prix has been the latest race to be outright cancelled, and it has also confirmed that should the 2020 British Grand Prix go ahead, it will do so behind-closed-doors.

No final revision of the 2020 calendar has been released so far.

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