Vettel: A shorter championship would not be less valuable

We had to experience the season of Formula 1 the longest in history with 22 races on the program. We are heading towards one of the shortest in decades due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

According to the sporting regulations, only 8 rounds are necessary for the 2020 titles to be awarded. Ross Brawn, sporting director of the discipline, has already indicated that such a compact calendar could start as late as October. But would a victory in the championship have the same flavor if the path to reaching it is reduced to its bare minimum?

« Seasons used to be shorter than they are now., observed Sebastian Vettel during an online press conference organized Thursday latest. I don't think it makes a big difference. A season is a season, whether it has 10, 15, 20, or 25 races. The goal remains the same: to be as consistent as possible.

Of course, when you have fewer races, there is more at stake in each round. At the end of the day, the championship would have the same value as any other championship. Even with 10 races, you will have to do everything correctly ».

Returning to competition is an extremely complex issue given the current health situation. Like his compatriot Andreas Seidl, main team McLaren, Vettel believes that “ the best remedy today is patience ».

« The subject has been discussed a lot within the GPDA (the Association of Grand Prix Drivers of which Vettel is one of the directors, Editor's note), added the four-time world champion. It's a very difficult decision. On the one hand, we must take into account the health of the sport on a commercial level.

On the other hand, we have to be responsible and ensure the health of the people who work in the paddock, and of course the spectators. Our races take place outdoors but they attract a lot of people. We have to take care of ourselves but also of the public.

We are studying different options to restart the season: What is the best format to start again? Behind closed doors? With fans? Nobody likes racing in front of empty stands. It's a strange feeling. We wonder what the best timing is to start. How much time would we save with a GP behind closed doors compared to a normal format? I do not know. We all want a return to normal, and I'm not just talking about F1 ».

In the meantime, Vettel continues to train at home, where he sometimes escapes by bike, with the arrival of spring helping. Otherwise, he naturally takes care of his 3 young children with his wife, and plans to move forward in negotiations around his potential contract renewal at Ferrari.