Minister of Sport hopeful for Austrian GP; chancellor less optimistic

It is still unclear when the Formula 1 season 2020 will start and it will stay that way for a while. The organisations of the Grands Prix of Great Britain and Austria have set the deadline for a decision on their event somewhere at the end of April. The Minister of Sport in Austria is slightly optimistic about the outcome.

According to Auto Motor und Sport, the possibility that the GP of Austria will be the first race weekend of the season is currently under discussion. The intention is that there will then be two races on the Red Bull Ring on 4th and the 5th of July.

Although the Austrian government has suspended all sports events until June the 30th, the Minister of Sports, Werner Kogler of the Greens, still hopes that the party can start a week later.

Even weddings are included in shutdown

"Apart from the fact that I'm not responsible, I still think a Grand Prix is possible. The organizers need to know that they have to comply with all health and safety regulations, when they are ready it is an option", says Kogler to the Kleine Zeitung.

However, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz shows in an interview with ORF that he is less optimistic. "There will be no events in Austria at least until the end of June and probably not even all summer. We will make that decision at the end of April. Even weddings are included."