Wolff: I'm expecting a reasonably normal F1 season after the summer
F1 NewsWednesday, 03 February 2021 at 12:19
Toto Wolff said that he is expecting Formula 1 to have a "reasonably normal season" following the summer break as the world continues to grapple with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The F1 calendar for 2021 has already been impacted, with the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix being postponed following governmental intervention in both countries.
Nonetheless, the sport is still planning to host a record 23 races this year, with the campaign set to begin on March 28 in Bahrain.
Looking ahead to the new season, Wolff said he accepted that further disruptions were a possibility.
"This fear is justified, of course," the Mercedes team principal told Austrian broadcaster ORF. "Australia has been postponed, but the Grand Prix is so important that they didn’t want to cancel it completely.
"That will be followed up at the end of the year.
“And China has a general ban on major events until August. These are two factors that we can’t influence. That’s why we’re starting in Bahrain.
"We’re familiar with that, and it’s always relatively easy there."
There are hopes that with the vaccine becoming increasingly available the virus could come under control, which would allow for the world to return to some sense of normality.
Wolff shares this optimism but warned that the packed schedule would once again put a strain on team personnel.
"I’m already assuming that we’ll have a reasonably normal season again after the summer," Wolff added.
"It will certainly be incredibly difficult for the race team as well. We will have three triple headers in a row. You won’t get home for four weeks. Of course, that’s an enormous burden."
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