Wolff: COVID-19 lockdowns challenging, but workarounds possible

Toto Wolf says the current increase of COVID-19 lockdown measures across Europe is a challenge for F1, but the Mercedes boss is confident the sport can work around the restrictions in the final part of the 2020 season.

France and Germany have implemented new lockdowns in the wake of a second wave of coronavirus cases, while UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Saturday evening a second national lockdown on Saturday evening to prevent a "medical and moral disaster" for the country's NHS.

Despite the new pan-European measures, Wolff is confident that F1's season will unfold unhindered into its conclusion.

"I think the lockdowns that we see in Europe now are very different to the lockdowns in spring," he said. "

"Back in spring it was a complete shutdown of any activity: Going to work, being on the street.

"I think this time, at least what we can see from France and Germany, access to pubs, restaurants and leisure places has been stopped or has been curfewed.

"Going to work is still permitted for the ones that need to go to work. It will impact our lives, that’s for sure. It will heavily impact some industries. But I think we can find a way of working around it."

Formula 1 has organized itself to minimize the risks of contagion within its community with stringent protocols and frequent testing for all its members.

However, while the sport is now a well-oiled and efficient machine against COVID-19, with a minimum number of cases erupting in or outside the paddock, Wolff insists the final call on the remaining races of the season in Turkey, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi will rest with the local authorities.

"You never know whether we can do all the races that are being left, because clearly the health question comes first," Wolff said.

"It’s in the hands of the health authorities in the countries that we are visiting to accept motor racing and host us.

"If these guys decide that it’s too much of a risk, then obviously we can’t race there. And this is how the decision-making process arose.

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"I believe that Formula 1 has done really a great job – and I mean the FIA, FOM and the teams – in running a championship contrary to many other team championships that are either run in a much reduced was or totally confined in some area.

"We’ve been travelling from country to country, we’ve kept in our bubbles, we’ve had very few positive Covid cases and that’s why I don’t think we really are providing a risk in a country that we are visiting because we are probably the safest group of people out there," added the Austrian.

"But who am I to judge? Somebody who knows and understands much more about the medical situation will have an input and will have a say and the FIA and FOM and we just have to take their guidance."

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