F1 | Marko's latest idea: "In Austria the second race will be on Wednesday evening"

These days we have become accustomed to hearing anything and everything regarding the 2020 Formula 1 World Championship. The season, if everything goes as planned, should start on the weekend of July 5th in Zeltweg with the Austrian Grand Prix. The conditional is a must given the times, but there is a cautious optimism around the Circus environment. The second race, again at the Red Bull Ring, should instead take place the following weekend, but Helmut Marko, consultant of the Austrian team, has very different ideas.

“We are in constant communication with the Austrian government to establish a series of conditions necessary to organize the Grand Prix, obviously behind closed doors – Marko admitted to the Austrian broadcaster ORF. These conditions must be satisfied 100%, without exceptions: a study is underway on how to limit the number of workers, limiting ourselves to the necessary personnel. The Austrian Grand Prix would probably be the first major global event after the Coronavirus, and will bring enormous interest not only for Formula 1, but also for our country. The first race will be on July 5th as per the normal schedule, while the second will be on Wednesday evening*, with a two-day format for testing, qualifying and racing. A sort of evening race would thus take hold, here the sun sets around 21pm in July. We could create something different and fascinating for other countries too."

*By "evening" Marko probably means late afternoon, so around 17/18pm as an indicative time.