It would be the biggest number of fans at a Grand Prix this year so far, but it seems questionable whether the 50,000 expected fans will actually be able to visit the Formula 1 weekend next week. Corona infections are rising sharply in Portugal.
National disaster
Infections in Portugal are running rampant, causing the Portuguese Government led by Prime Minister António Costa to call for a national disaster so that traffic restrictions and other drastic measures can be enforced if necessary, Speedweek.com reports. Although the measures taken by Formula 1 to counter contaminations appear to be working well, with only a few infections, it is questionable whether it is enough to convince the Portuguese Government.
Motorsport events
The Grand Prix is ​​not the only motorsport event that is called into question by this, the final of the Superbike World Championship in Estoril is this weekend and the final of the MotoGP World Championship in Portimao on December 22 are also called into question. To date, Autódromo do Algarve director Paulo Pinheiro is counting on the approval of 50,000 spectators for both Formula 1 and MotoGP, but the health authorities could put an end to these plans.