Rosberg: "Financial help for the smaller teams is the priority"

Nico Rosberg, world champion in 2016, expects that the smaller teams in Formula 1 will find it difficult to get through this period without races. In addition, the German thinks that races without an audience will ensure that there will be earlier and more Grands Prix on the calendar.

"It will certainly help to organize races without an audience. They can be organized sooner, because you don't need a lot of people for that", the German told SpeedWeek. "The biggest problem at the moment, however, is the financial situation of the smaller teams, because Formula 1 needs all the teams. If two or three teams drop out, then it's not a fun sport to watch anymore, because the starting field will just be too small".

Rosberg himself has nowhere to go either, because he is stuck in Ibiza because of the strict measures taken by the Spanish government. "It's hard for me, but I'll get through it". The German is following the coronavirus situation closely, but he can't give a good estimation about the start of the season yet.

"Nobody knows yet when the season will start, but I really hope to organize as many races as possible". Rosberg, who said goodbye to F1 after his championship, thinks the FIA and FOM should now focus on the smaller teams and their financial situation, because F1 shouldn't lose teams. "That's why financial help for the smaller teams is now the priority."