The calendar puzzle for Liberty Media

Presenting a coherent schedule while knowing that it will not be respected seems to be the inextricable problem that Liberty Media must face. No doubt Chase Carey would have done without this thorn in his side before handing over to Stefano Domenicali.

It is especially the first part of the championship which places the Group F1 in embarrassment, as a source on the Portimão circuit explains to us. “I don’t know how the FOM is going to do it, he tells us. The Australian Grand Prix has already requested to be pushed back until later in the season, and it is not the only one.

The problem is that everyone wants to be in the second half, where it will be complicated to accommodate 20 meetings. » For our man, the FOM will have no other alternative than to find a budgetary solution.

“She must agree to start the season again behind closed doors and to open as soon as possibleHe says. Without spectators, no promoter can afford the $20, $30, or $40 million asking price.

Liberty must take charge of the first half to save the championship, otherwise many will be forced to leave the calendar! » The threat is real and the scenario could be catastrophic if the right measures are not taken.

As already announced in our issue 2280 of September 30, the season should begin in Bahrain before heading to China and Vietnam. The return from Asia would be via Baku before a planned start to the European campaign in Zandvoort on May 2.

However, it seems that the Dutch have already requested a postponement until September, like other promoters from the Old Continent. In short, in the face of the pandemic, for the moment it is the save who can who wins, everyone only seeing their salvation in the arrival of spring. Winter is going to be long!