Brawn: F1 could scrap summer break to reinstate races

Formula 1 sporting boss Ross Brawn says the championship could scrap the planned August summer break to hold rearranged races in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

The start of the 2020 season has been delayed until May at the earliest amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which has caused havoc to major sporting event schedules worldwide.

F1 abandoned its planned season-opening Australian Grand Prix after McLaren withdrew from the event following a positive COVID-19 test for one of its team members. Races in Bahrain, China and Vietnam have also been postponed, with major doubts lingering over the Dutch and Spanish Grands Prix currently due to be held in May.

F1 now expects to begin the campaign at the Monaco Grand Prix on May 26, though it admitted the situation remains “fluid” and could change depending on how the coronavirus outbreak develops.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, Brawn said: "Maybe we take a hiatus, we take a pause - and then we use that opportunity to say right, for this time at the beginning of the year we won't have any races, we'll look at relocating those races later in the year.

"I think by freeing up the August break, we give ourselves several weekends where we can have a race. And I think we can build a pretty decent calendar for the rest of the year.

"It will look different, but it will still preserve a good number of races, and they're exciting races. So the season's going to start later, but I think it will be just as entertaining.”

Brawn conceded F1 now finds itself in “uncharted territory” due to the coronavirus crisis but added: "I'm pretty optimistic that we can have a good 17-18 race championship or more.

"One thing we have been talking about is two-day weekends, and therefore if we have a triple header with two-day weekends, that could be an option.

"I think we can squeeze them in. But it depends on when the season will start."