Formula 1 opts to bring forward summer shutdown

The FIA has approved a switch to this year's Formula 1 summer shut down due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

With no racing throughout March and April, with the season-opening Australian Grand Prix cancelled and the subsequent races in Bahrain, Vietnam and China all postponed, a decision has been taken to bring forward the August summer break.

It means the factories of the 10 teams will now be closed for a consecutive 21-day period across what remains of March and through April.

An FIA statement read: "In light of the global impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus currently affecting the organisation of FIA Formula One World Championship events, the World Motor Sport Council has approved a change to the 2020 FIA Formula 1 Sporting Regulations, moving the summer shutdown period from July and August to March and April and extending it from 14 to 21 days.

"All competitors must, therefore, observe a shutdown period of 21 consecutive days during the months of March and/or April.

"The change was supported unanimously by both the F1 Strategy Group and F1 Commission."

It is now almost certain with the Dutch, Spanish and Monaco Grands Prix in May likely to be postponed, races will be switched to August as F1 attempts to fill the four-week gap between the Hungarian and Belgian Grands Prix on August 2 and 30.

The move is likely to anger team members with families, in particular, who had summer holidays booked.

The new 21-day shut down is certain to take in the Easter holidays in April to at least allow personnel to look after their children, albeit with nowhere to vacate to due to the lockdown across Europe.

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