This year’s British Grand Prix will take place behind closed doors if it goes ahead, the British Racing Drivers Club has confirmed.
While reports on social media claimed the race had been “cancelled”, RaceFans understands the plan is for the race to go ahead without spectators.Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle said in a statement he is “extremely disappointed to tell you that we are unable to stage this year’s British Grand Prix in front of the fans at Silverstone.
“We have left this difficult decision for as long as possible, but it is abundantly clear given the current conditions in the country and the Government requirements in place now and for the foreseeable future, that a Grand Prix under normal conditions is just not going to be possible.
“Our obligations to protect the health and safety of everyone involved in preparing and delivering the event, our volunteer marshals and race makers, and of course, you, the amazing fans, means that this is the best, safest and only decision we could make.
“We have consistently said that should we find ourselves in this position we will support Formula 1 as they seek to find alternative ways to enable F1 racing to take place this year. Following this weekend’s news from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport we are now working with them on the viability of an event behind closed doors.
Pringle reassured ticket holders they will be offered refunds for this year’s race.
“Customers who have purchased a ticket will be given the option of either transferring their booking directly to 2021 or of taking a full refund,” he said. “All customers will be contacted in the next two weeks with full details, so we do ask you to please be patient with us as we work through all our bookings.”
Silverstone will also offer free tickets to its 2021 race to National Health Service workers, Pringle said.
“I can also confirm that next year, we intend to give away thousands of tickets for the 2021 event to NHS and other key workers who have literally been putting their lives on the line for us all, during these challenging times. No one can be in any doubt of the huge debt of gratitude we owe to them.”
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Video: Will F1 resort to holding races ‘behind closed doors’?
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2020 F1 season
- Pictures: Wrecked chassis from Grosjean’s Bahrain fireball crash to go on display
- Bottas vs Rosberg: Hamilton’s Mercedes team mates compared after 78 races each
- F1 revenues fell by $877 million in Covid-struck 2020 season
- Hamilton and Mercedes finally announce new deal for 2021 season
- F1 audience figures “strong” in 2020 despite dip in television viewers
Derek Edwards
27th April 2020, 8:33
At least they won’t be able to cut to the crowd in the middle of an overtaking manoeuvre…
ColdFly (@)
27th April 2020, 9:05
They plan to sell the grandstands to corporate sponsors who will plaster their brands all over it through either banners or painted seats.
Think like the prancing horse in Italy, but then made up of liquor and betting companies on every grandstand around the circuit.
Witan
27th April 2020, 8:49
Why free tickets for NHS workers only? Without the power generator staff, gas companies, truckers, pharmacists, distribution trades, service personnel for hospital lifts and other equipment, we would have no health service.
The NHS staff are not all on the front line any more than those sectors are, and I am uncomfortable to find they are always forgotten.
tommyc2004
27th April 2020, 9:01
If people follow the UK advice of 2m apart, self isolating etc etc, its imo highly unlikely that these tradesman you mention will catch Covid 19. And this is not to degrade the service/impact they are playing in any way. Front line NHS workers however go to work knowing they are going to care for patients with Covid 19 and therefore are putting their own lives and that of their families at direct risk from this awful virus. This includes student nurses, who themselves have to pay fees to carry out this vital work rather than recieving a wage.
William Jones
27th April 2020, 9:04
power generator staff, gas companies, truckers, pharmacists, distribution trades, service personnel for hospital lifts and other equipment didn’t suffer a pay cut in real terms after a pay freeze for a decade, that’s why.
ColdFly (@)
27th April 2020, 9:10
Nobody stops you from walking daily in front of your house to collect money for those forgotten heroes, Witan.
You could even give them free tickets to that event :P
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
27th April 2020, 9:53
I suspect most doctors and nurses who put their lives on the line every day dealing with covid-19 patients would say they’re underpaid for the job. From what I can tell it isn’t uncommon for them to have inadequate PPE.
I haven’t worked in a power plant, and I haven’t worked in a hospital emergency department, but I suspect there’s considerably less risk of contracting the corona virus in a power plant than in a hospital emergency department. The power plant might pay better too.
I’m sure there’s lots of people who will feel they deserve to be included, but they weren’t. That’s the sort of thing that happens in life.
Internationally lots of doctors and nurses have been killed by the virus.
Invisiblekid (@invisiblekid)
27th April 2020, 11:24
All those people are at a considerably lower risk of contracting the disease and dying. Of course I am grateful of them continuing to work, but they are no in the same league of danger. Arguably distribution is safer since there is less traffic on the roads.
If I were asked who would I like to give my ticket to it’d be a NHS worker. I’d prefer a nurse/porter etc but I’d be ok if it went to a highly paid doctor. Facing death every day for 12 hours is worth more than driving a truck. Sorry but for me, it’s not even close.
Yaru (@yaru)
29th April 2020, 22:41
Because the NHS deal DIRECTLY with infected patients at close proximity?
Not saying the others aren’t contributing or are not in any risk, but they its called the “front” line for a reason. They aren’t the only ones involved in the war but theyre very much st the forefront.
John H (@john-h)
27th April 2020, 9:12
Refunds or transfer to 2021. Take note Spa.
JCCJCC
27th April 2020, 9:19
Finally some good news.
I think this decision of doing it close doors means that they have good possibilities of really do the race.