Formula 1 and the FIA have been given the power to make changes to this year’s calendar without the approval of teams as the sport tries to salvage its 2020 championship.
Article 5.5 of the Sporting Regulations states that “the final list of Events is published by the FIA before 1 January each year.”However faced with unprecedented disruption due to the global pandemic, which has led to the first seven dates on the original 2020 schedule being scrapped, F1 and the FIA have been empowered to decide between themselves how the calendar will be reorganised. The decision was taken at a meeting between them and the teams today.
“During this exceptional time and following several race postponements and the World Motorsport Council’s (WMSC) unanimous decision to move the Formula 1 summer break forward to March and April, we and the FIA discussed with the teams the need for extra flexibility to accommodate a rescheduled season once the COVID-19 situation improves,” said Carey in a statement.
“At the meeting there was full support for the plans to reschedule as many of the postponed races as possible as soon as it is safe to do so. Formula 1 and the FIA will now work to finalise a revised 2020 calendar and will consult with the teams, but as agreed at the meeting the revised calendar will not require their formal approval. This will give us the necessary flexibility to agree revised timings with affected race promoters and to be ready to start racing at the right moment.”
The meeting also resulted in a unanimous decision to postpone Formula 1’s new technical regulations which were due to be introduced next year. Carey thanked all parties for reaching the agreements.
“It was agreed unanimously at the meeting that the implementation of the technical regulations due to take effect from the 2021 season will be postponed until 2022,” said Carey.
“Due to the currently volatile financial situation this has created, it has been agreed that teams will use their 2020 chassis for 2021, with the potential freezing of further components to be discussed in due course. The introduction and implementation of the Financial Regulations will go ahead as planned in 2021.
“We are all very grateful for the collaborative nature of the discussions and fully united approach from all parties to get racing in 2020 as soon as the current global situation subsides. Formula 1 remains fully committed to launching a 2020 season as soon as possible.”
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Phylyp (@phylyp)
19th March 2020, 20:00
Since the teams were present in that meeting, I don’t see any cause for anyone to be unhappy with this outcome. Desperate times/measures, and all that.
Here’s wishing Liberty well in their effort to salvage something of the calendar, and to get the sport back racing in the near/medium/far future.
DB-C90 (@dbradock)
20th March 2020, 1:13
It’s great to see some common sense being applied by all parties to allow for a more dynamic decision making process for the immediate future.
With things changing on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis at the moment, the last thing we’d be needing is for barriers to be put in place.
Thecollaroyboys (@thecollaroyboys)
19th March 2020, 21:48
So Mercedes can use DAS next year?
bosyber (@bosyber)
20th March 2020, 6:49
Yes, though now perhaps the calculus for competitors on whether to work on it becomes more positive, have a few people work on it from home @thecollaroyboys I would think
Jere (@jerejj)
20th March 2020, 13:02
But the teams still couldn’t do just any kind of schedule.