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McLaren team leader Zack Brown believes that if the 2020 F1 season is going to happen, the most realistic way is to drive 14 or 15 races on 10 tracks.
But Brown believes the sport should be more prepared for emergencies than when the Australian Grand Prix was stopped in Melbourne, as another outbreak among team members.
In an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com’s “#thinkingforward” series of seminars aimed at motorsport leaders, Brown said that in early July, under controlled circumstances, each in Austria and Silverstone began the season with a game. It will help build confidence and fuel momentum, which will continue through mid-December to complete a significant season.
“8 (Grand Prix) is enough (which constitutes the World Championship), and I am very optimistic that we are going to celebrate more than 8 Grand Prix,” he said, “F1 is considering the schedule of 16-18 games, around 15 tracks. 18 games. On the contrary, I’m not so optimistic, I would bet going to 10 tracks for 14-15 games. “
“I think we will play 2 games in Austria and 2 games at Silverstone. If we start having travel problems, I think some other games will have 2 games in a row. I think the plan is not That’s it, but I will assume that we will encounter problems in the process. “
“Even if Austria and Silverstone are ready for the empty game, we don’t know if the second wave will come. If we want to go to Asia or the United States, I think that while we fly abroad, the risk will increase.”
“There is a discussion about playing more games in Europe. And for a long time only 16 games were said. Therefore, in my opinion, 14-15 games will be a very complete season.”
Brown believes that the Red Bull Ring in Austria, due to the remote environment, is an ideal location for the recovery of the season, because charter flights can land at the air base next to each other, and the sparse population near the runway it is easy to control.
Last week, Austria had loosened many restrictions on “blocking”, such as reopening stores.
“What I can foresee is that the first 4 games were played under very strict measures,” said Brown. “So if we can successfully solve those problems, I think there will be energy and confidence. So, sitting here today, I am quite optimistic that there will be a good plan.”
Brown is the team manager with the most crisis to face, because it was a member of McLaren who tested positive and caused the cancellation of the first game in Melbourne.
He admits he has learned a lot, and the right team, clear decision making, and clear communication are the most important elements. However, the chaotic scenes in (Melbourne) Thursday and Friday show that the sport is not well prepared for all possible situations.
“People are scared and everyone is looking for guidance,” said Brown. “They want to know ‘what should I do?’ I think our team is doing very well in this regard. So when we decided to withdraw from the Australian game, this decision was actually made before the game, so that was not the situation (unprepared). Plan and try imagine: if something happens, what will you do? If nothing happens, what should we do? Do? “
“I think, in terms of the development of the Australian Grand Prix cancellation, overall, it seems like the main stakeholders have not been mixed up in the plan, a bit like ‘Oh, McLaren has pulled out, what should we do? ‘ Withdrawal, where the team and everyone should be better prepared, what we should do, and proceed. The team meets Thursday night until three in the morning, but they do not agree on what they should do. This happens when everyone key stakeholders are not fully prepared. “
However, Brown believes that the current overall approach of the FIA and the free media to respond to the crisis means that F1 should increase sharply in the future. Freedom Media has raised a $ 1.4 billion “contingency fund” in the absence of competition or other economic risks for a long time, and has supported the team.
“They continue to pay us. They have helped some teams. I’m not sure which team, but I think it’s good, because eventually all the teams may need some help. I think they are doing everything they can to get us back.” Gambling protects us financially. “
“Make an impression on me (FIA President Todd). They are making wise decisions, good advice. Especially to keep working hard on the ‘budget cap.’ This is necessary, and it needs to be done first.”
“As long as we can all deal with (the crisis) and solve the problem instead of evading the problem, I think there is a possibility. I think that if we evade the problem, it is very dangerous; if we assume that everything will resolve itself, it will be very dangerous”. “
