F1 wants to include F2 and F3 into season start plans

Formula 1 is aiming to incorporate its support series Formula 2 and Formula 3 into its plan to get the 2020 season up and running.

On Monday F1 laid out its initial blueprint for how the 2020 calendar may look with 15-to-18 races. CEO Chase Carey said he is “increasingly confident” of getting the campaign underway in July following a delayed start caused by the coronavirus crisis.

F1 has identified the Austrian Grand Prix as its season opener on July 5, which would be the start of a string of European rounds across July, August and early September.

That would be followed by races in Eurasia, Asia and the Americas in late autumn, before rounding out the season with the Bahrain and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix in December.

The early rounds would be held behind closed doors without spectators to keep in line with national social distancing measures, though F1 hopes such restrictions would be eased to allow fans to attend races later in the year.

No details were outlined in the plan about F2 and F3, but Trevor Carlin, who owns the Carlin squad that competes in both of F1’s support series, has revealed that F1 will try to include both championships in the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone rounds.

"What I heard is this Red Bull Ring double-header, Silverstone double-header plan and they would try to incorporate F2 and F3 into that," Carlin told Reuters.

"I think it’s a great idea if it is achievable. That’s the bottom line. Hopefully it is.”

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One of the biggest dilemmas facing F1 during a fan-less grand prix weekend would be the amount of personnel still required to run the race, including team, medical, marshals and broadcasting staff.

Such numbers, including F2 and F3 team staff would likely eclipse over 2,000 people, well above the current national guidelines and restrictions regarding social distancing.

But Carlin believes the numbers could be significantly cut down.

"They are saying we could get it down to 80, just essential staff. I’m thinking 80 people? I can’t see for the life of me why you’d need more than 50,” he explained.

Carlin also said he could not understand concerns about the strain a compact calendar would have on all F1 personnel involved, given there has been such a long break without racing.

"If everyone’s just had two months off they should be fresh and raring to go,” he added.

"When people are moaning about three [race weekends] on the trot, I don’t get it."