Sainz: Cancellation of 2020 season would be 'hard to accept'

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McLaren's Carlos Sainz says a forced write-off of the entire 2020 F1 season would entail "very negative consequences" for the sport.

So far, the global coronavirus pandemic has led to the cancellation or postponement of the first nine races of the current campaign, with the French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard scheduled for June 28 also expected to be scrapped.

Formula 1 is thinking out of the box to imagine contingency plans that would allow for teams to go racing while ensuring that a maximum of races still take place.

But given the uncertainty surrounding the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, an outright abandonment of the entire 2020 season is a realistic possibility, although Sainz prefers not to think of such an outcome.

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"I prefer to think there's going to be fewer races than to imagine everything will be cancelled," Sainz told Spanish media. "Abandoning the season would be a hard blow that would be difficult to accept.

"If the situation doesn't get under control it would be fully understandable, but it would have very negative consequences for the sport and everything surrounding it.

"A lot of jobs would be at risk and that's never good."

As F1 deals with the turmoil and costly repercussions of the current crisis, Sainz emphasized the hopeful side of the situation.

"F1 will suffer the consequences of this pandemic, like any other sport or business," he said.

"This situation is helping make all teams aware that they need to make an effort, be self-critical and agree to change things.

"I'm sure that with the rules that had already been agreed and the decisions they made these days, we'll see a more matched and more sustainable Formula 1.

"It's a sport full of brilliant people, great engineers and professionals and with a great infrastructure and I think we can be an example of how to come out stronger of this situation."

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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.