Seidl: Triple-headers cannot become 'the new standard' for F1

McLaren F1 boss Andreas Seidl says circumstances have forced F1 to include triple-header periods in its schedule but insists the sequence of races cannot become the norm in the future.

The onslaught of the coronavirus earlier this year forced F1 to cancel or postpone the first ten races of the 2020 season.

But the disruption required Liberty Media and the FIA to get creative in terms of rebuilding a calendar or replacing several venues, a plight that has led to F1 including as many events as possible into a compressed period.

The sport kicked off its season with a triple-header in Austria and in Hungary and will initiate its second three-race stint next week at Silverstone.

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While running two races at the same track mitigates somewhat the effects of the non-stop sequence, teams still suffer from stress and fatigue.

Seidl understands the exceptional reasons behind this year's hectic calendar requirements but insists they cannot be repeated in the future.

"We're going now into the triple-header with these two races in the UK, which is obviously for the UK teams is not as bad as for some other teams," Seidl said.

"At least we have the possibility to arrive at the track as late as possible with only a short travel, and having a break between these two Silverstone races.

"Then we go into another triple-header, and then at the moment I think on the schedule there is another triple-header later on, which I think then is tough.

"Given the special circumstances we are in this year, it's something we simply have to get through this year.

"But at the same time, this cannot be the new standard going forward also in future seasons."

A three-week non-stop workload is "tough" on the teams admits Seidl, but the lengthy period spent away from home for staff members is the bigger issue contends the McLaren team boss.

"I don't think that the biggest challenge is actually the work we have to do out here at the track," Seidl added.

"It's also tough work, but I think the biggest issue is being away from the families and the kids and so on, for each team member.

"Going through this first triple-header after this long break we had, I think it's also not the biggest challenge yet.

"We need to be aware that the longer we go now in the season, especially the triple-headers that are coming later on, that will be a big challenge for the team.

"What we do from a team side is try to make travelling, accommodation, and everything we can provide to the team here at the track and back at the hotels as comfortable as possible and as good as possible, simply to get through as a team in the best possible shape.

"At the same time, I think everyone inside the team understands that this is a special season, under special circumstances after this virus broke out.

"We all understand also that it's absolutely necessary for the existence of the teams that we do these races this year."

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