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Tost about starting F1 in Austria: "Opposite can happen in Great Britain"

20 April 2020 at 19:54
Last update 20 April 2020 at 19:55
  • GPblog.com

The FIA, the FOM and Liberty Media don't come up with so many updates on the impact of the coronavirus on the Formula 1 calendar, but Franz Tost defends them. According to the team boss of AlphaTauri it's not easy because they have to work with a huge number of parties that all serve their own interests.

"Formula 1 is a pretty big ship, it's not easy to steer. There is an enormous logistics behind it", Tost hints in conversation with Speedweek.com. Still, Tost says he hates the uncertainty. "I am also aware that all this is unsatisfactory. At the moment we have more questions than answers. We don't know what individual governments will decide. So we're forced to play out different scenarios."

Few answers that matter

Because there are so many scenarios on the table, it is also very difficult to provide clarity to all stakeholders. "Logically, therefore, you just have less relevant answers," explains the Austrian. "We can outline what a return of Formula 1 could look like, but we just don't know if that's possible in the end".

Currently, the plan is to start the 2020 season of the royal class of motor racing at the beginning of July on the Red Bull Ring. "Maybe we'll be lucky there, insofar as the situation has evolved in such a way that the government allows more freedom", Tost refers to the fact that the number of measures in Austria will be reduced. "But the opposite may happen to us in Great Britain. We all don't know that." So a start of the year in Austria is possible, while at Silverstone the Grand Prix can't take place. In short: a lot of uncertainties.

Employees AlphaTauri all tested

At AlphaTauri, all personnel are in any case subjected to a coronation test. "I've already made it clear internally that we will do such tests. But this has nothing to do with whether we go to competitions or not. I want all our employees to be tested for corona, to minimize the risk of infection in the company when we resume work at the factory," he concludes.