Ferrari ready to do 'whatever is needed' to help kickstart season

Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto says the Italian outfit will be flexible with F1's plans to ensure a semblance of a season takes place in 2020.

Tuesday saw the postponement of the ninth round of the F1 world championship, the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, and many are those who believe that more cancellations will occur.

Formula 1 is working on various contingency plans to build a 15 to 18-race schedule that will start as soon as the coast is clear on the coronavirus front, although there is currently no clarity for when that may be the case.

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"I think no one can really know it, we had a meeting yesterday [on Monday] with F1, the FIA and the other teams, we certainly discussed the matter," Binotto told Sky Sports News.

"F1 is certainly trying to organise the best championship they can this season, eventually starting early July, if that will be possible, but we have not confirmation at the moment.

"I think by the end of May maybe we will have a clearer picture.

"It’s in the interest of everyone really to start racing when we can, when that will be possible, to have as many races as we can, but I think it’s too early now to have a clear picture."

©Ferrari

Compressing a high number of events into a relatively short timeframe will likely require some significant changes to the F1's routine race weekends.
But Binotto insists Ferrari will support any ideas or actions initiated by F1, the FIA or the promoters.

"We know that from the sporting regs as first to have a world championship you need at least eight races. What I think [is that] everyone is trying to look for more than that," he said.

“What will be important for us is to be flexible. I’m pretty sure Chase [Carey] and the teams will be capable of putting in place the best championship we can have.

"From our side it's really whatever is needed – short race weekends, double race, whenever it will finish, packing all the races together – whatever will be, it’s important to be flexible and making sure we can have good races as well for the fans."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.