If British GP not cancelled, it has to run without fans (2nd Update)

British GP, if it runs, will be a 'Ghost' race

UPDATE This year’s British Grand Prix will take place without fans after Silverstone’s owners said that a race “under normal conditions is just not going to be possible" because of coronavirus.

Organizers have not yet pulled the plug on the July 19th event, but Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle’s letter to fans who have already bought tickets that they will have to watch on TV.

“I am extremely disappointed to tell you that we are unable to stage this year’s British Grand Prix in front of the fans at Silverstone," Pringle wrote in a message published on Silverstone’s Twitter account. “We have left this difficult decision for as long as possible, but it is abundantly clear given the current conditions in the country and the Government requirements in place now and for the foreseeable future, that a grand prix under normal conditions is just not going to be possible.

“Our obligations to protect the health and safety of everyone involved in preparing and delivering the event, our volunteer marshals and race makers, and of course, you, the amazing fans, means that this is the best, safest and only decision we could make. We have consistently said that should we find ourselves in this position we will support Formula One as they seek to find alternative ways to enable F1 racing to take place this year.

“Following this weekend’s news from the department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport we are now working with them on the viability of an event behind closed doors. Should this be possible, it will be of some small comfort for you to know that the 2020 Formula One Pirelli British Grand Prix will be available to watch live on Sky and Channel 4."

With social distancing of 6 feet or more still in place until there is a vaccine, British GP organizers are Whistling Dixie if they think they can run the race in July. We can see the lawsuits flying when fans die after being infected at the race and families sue F1 and the organizers! We hope they have good lawyers.

04/04/20 Former F1 driver Mark Webber believes the British Grand Prix is likely to be postponed along with the three races that preceded it in Canada, France and Austria, because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s a global sport, freight is an issue and logistically it’s one of the most challenging sports.

“They’re looking at around July but I still think that is very, very optimistic."

“Formula One, with the traveling circus and even TV which requires huge production teams, faces a big challenge," he said.

“They’re looking at condensing the weekends to two days from three days and I think that’s a great idea to help get some events in without rushing them through."

However, even though the British Grand Prix might soon join the growing list of postponed races, Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle recently suggested the track could be used for multiple events when racing resumes.

“All I've done is say to Formula 1 we are willing to work with them in any way, shape or form that they think is in the best interests of the championship," he told Sky Sports.

"The majority of the teams are within a stone's throw of the circuit, so operationally it would be pretty straightforward.

"We've got the fixed infrastructure, the staff could go home to their own beds of an evening in large parts.

"So if that's how we can help, then I'd be delighted to do that."

04/01/20 (GMM) British GP promoters will decide by the end of this month if the F1 race at Silverstone can go ahead in July.

On the official Formula 1 website, the race calendar has been removed completely and replaced with an explanation that an alternative schedule is "likely to differ significantly".

However, Silverstone is yet to postpone or cancel its original event.

"We fully appreciate that other UK sporting events in July have taken decisions regarding their events," read a statement.

"But it is important to highlight that their logistics and sporting arrangements differ from Silverstone's and, therefore, our timeline gives us until the end of April to make a final decision."

But any racing whatsoever in July now appears to be extremely unlikely.

"Motorsport in July would be a miracle," Paolo Ciabatti, sports director at the MotoGP team Ducati, told Speed Week.

"We can only start again when the health and safety of all those involved is guaranteed. Until then there is no point discussing when to restart motorsport," he added.