Changes in the grid procedure and podium in 2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many changes in pre- and post-race procedures will take place this year in order to comply with social distancing.
Gone are the days when we watched F1 Grand Prix races with stands filled with spectators, a grid teeming with people, and a crowded podium ceremony. In an interview with the official Formula 1 website, Ross Brawn, the technical and sporting director of F1, announces changes to comply with the very strict new health regulations put into effect. Indeed, the FIA, the teams, and Formula 1 have worked together to establish these new social distancing rules. They will be implemented from the first Grand Prix of the year in Austria.
The pilots’ parade
Ordinarily, a few hours before the race on Sunday, the drivers meet at the FIA garage and get into a truck or a historic car to tour the circuit and greet the fans. This will obviously no longer be possible due to the proximity between them.
A new format will be implemented with a separate interview of the drivers in front of their garage. This is to limit contact.
« There are many ways to engage without compromising health and safety. I am 100% convinced that we will make it an attractive and exciting product, it will just be different. This is the new normal. How long will it last? We don’t know, but it will certainly be the new normal for the rest of the year » explains Ross Brawn.
Grid layout
Everyone has already realized in the past, through TV images or by being on a circuit, the complexity of navigating the grid before the race. Team personnel, media, officials, and guests mingle a few minutes before the start. It is simply impossible to comply with the health protocol in the current format.
« Things like the national anthem, you can’t group all the drivers and you can’t have our FIA Future Stars in front of them. » comments Brawn.
The FIA Future Stars will always virtually be part of the show. They will be sent uniforms, and they will send us videos with messages that we can broadcast, so there are many things we can do to make it entertaining.
The Podium
The podium ceremony and trophy presentations are also affected by this new health protocol. This historic event in motorsport to celebrate the top three will continue, but in a revised format.
« The podium procedure cannot occur [as it currently does], but we are considering doing something on the grid after the race. » explains Brawn. « One option would be to line up the cars on the track and the drivers will stand in front of the cars. »
« We cannot present the trophies because you cannot have someone nearby to present a trophy, but we have worked on it, we have plans and procedures, we are looking into how we can present it on television. »
