Sky F1 has claimed many awards for their second to none coverage of Formula One and so it should be no surprise that even at a time when there may be no stories on track…they are still bringing the exclusives off track. Most recently, Mattia Binotto, Team Principal of Scuderia Ferrari, shared his thoughts on how Ferrari should act to enable racing to resume.

Many critics of Formula One like to make out that Ferrari is a rigid superpower and always looking to veto ideas and innovation. In an exclusive interview for Sky Sports News, Mattia Binotto made clear to his interviewer Craig Slater that Ferrari is ready to play its part with any negotiations for getting the 2020 F1 season finally underway.

"We know from the sporting regulations that to have a World Championship you need at least eight races, but everyone is trying to look for more than that…I think what will be important for us is really to be flexible.”

To hear this word ‘flexible’ will be music to the ears of many a race fan. Clearly, the desire to be racing again as soon as possible should result in less politics and delays than would be expected with a normal scheduling of a race weekend. Binotto then continued:

"I'm pretty sure Chase [Carey, F1 chairman] and the teams will be capable of putting together the best championship we can have. From our side, we are ready for whatever is needed whether short race weekends, double races, whenever it will finish or packing the races together.”

The prospect of a condensed calendar and the impact this would have on so called smaller teams is a worrying one because it will be a logistical nightmare to get so much freight around the world at speed. Not to mention the impact this will have on the families of all those who take part annually in the Formula 1 circus.

"It is important to be flexible and making sure we can have good races as well for the fans…F1 is certainly trying to organise the best season, maybe starting early July if that would be possible but we cannot have any confirmation at the moment. But I think by the end of May we will have a clearer picture.”

As exciting as it is to hear Mattia Binotto speak of a 2020 Formula One season in this way, this comment reiterates a fact that everyone has known for many months now – the future is still extremely uncertain.

"I think it is in the interests of everyone to start racing when we can, when that will be possible, and have as many races as we can but I think now it's too early to have a clear picture of what will be the future."

Meanwhile, having won an official F1 Virtual Grand Prix at his first attempt, Charles Leclerc tweeted to his followers:

“Hahaaa, 1^st Win of the season! This was very fun, I hope you had fun watching me live wherever you are in the world, but take care of yourself and I hope we make this difficult time a bit happier.”

As for the Ferrari factory itself, before the Prancing Horse assists F1 in returning to the track, the hard-working employees are busy helping their staff return to full health when work recommences, as shown by the Italian company’s recent tweet:

“People are our most precious resource. Our ‘Back on Track’ program, in partnership with a pool of virologists and experts, ensures the entire Ferrari community’ will have access to free testing, counselling and monitoring in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The world will look very different when this pandemic comes to an end and, as unimportant as this may be in the grand scheme of things, many teams are working together to ensure that the F1 starting grid doesn’t.

https://www.motorlat.com/notas/f1/15153/fia-extends-f1-shutdown-period-from-21-to-35-days