Tost expects strange atmosphere at the opening races
Scuderia AlphaTauri Team Principal Franz Tost is looking forward to the season-opening Austrian Grand Prix. However, he has admitted that the atmosphere will be strange due to the measures introduced due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Formula 1 has released the start of the delayed 2020 season on Tuesday, confirming that the season-opening race will be staged in Austria. The home of Red Bull will play host to back-to-back races on two consecutive weekends on July 5 and 12.
After the Austrian GP and the following weekend’s Grand Prix of Steiermark, the teams will make the short trip to the Hungaroring on the outskirts of Budapest, for the third round, the Hungarian Grand Prix on 19 July. August will also feature a triple header with two races at Silverstone and then from there a long drive to Barcelona and the Spanish GP.
The European leg of the 2020 F1 championship will conclude in Belgium and Italy on 30 August and 6 September respectively.
Tost is looking forward to the opening race of the delayed and curtailed 2020 F1 season where his rebranded outfit can make its debut. „It’s fantastic to go racing again, as it will be the first race for our new Scuderia AlphaTauri colours. We all are more than excited that it takes place at the Red Bull Ring in this wonderful part of Austria.”
„A big THANK YOU to Dietrich Mateschitz and Red Bull for hosting Formula 1 in Spielberg, to enable Formula 1 to start the season, and to get back to work. It took a lot of time and effort to receive the approval from the Government. This is also the result of the negotiations Dr. Marko started with the authorities’ several weeks ago.”
Despite expressing his delight at the restart of Formula 1, Tost has acknowledged that it would be a „strange” feeling to stage a race without spectators and adhering to strict rules aimed at containing the spread of the coronavirus.
„Of course the atmosphere will be strange and it is a shame that no spectators can attend, but this is an important first step on getting Formula 1 back to normal as soon as possible.”
„The standards imposed are very rigorous and we have already employed them ourselves in our facilities in Faenza and Bicester, which led to essential staff being able to return to work on 1st June to prepare for the season. It is vital from a business point of view and also as a sign that life is getting back to normal,” he added.
