F1 drivers “very active” in 2020 season start plan talks

Romain Grosjean says Formula 1’s drivers are keen to help the sport get back to racing and have been “very active” in talks with championship officials over plans to get the 2020 season started.

With the opening 10 events already called off due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, F1 officials are working on a plan to get the season off the ground in early July with a double-header of behind closed doors races in Austria.

Haas’ Grosjean, who is a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, revealed drivers have been in regular dialogue with F1’s bosses and are being kept up to date with the latest proposals.

"We have got a WhatsApp group and it has been very active, I must say," Grosjean said on the Sky Sports F1 vodcast. "A lot of discussions on different subjects.

"We had a call with Formula 1, Chase Carey and Ross [Brawn]. I just couldn't make the call, but I know Alex [Wurz, GPDA chairman] and Sebastian [Vettel, GPDA director] were on it, and then I got the feedback.

“We are trying to be as much as we can involved; trying to help the best we can because to help the teams we need to go racing earlier than later.

"Obviously not doing anything costs money for nothing and if we can go racing then we know what's happening.”

F1’s plan includes creating a “biosphere” environment where races would take place under strict safety measures and feature regular testing for coronavirus for paddock personnel, who will be kept apart as much as possible.

"Everyone is doing his best,” Grosjean explained. “Obviously, it's very difficult to know what the situation is going to be like.

"Taking a lot of measures and trying to make sure that everything is great. But maybe in July the world will be in a much better place and actually we can ease things up a little bit. As I said, the earlier we can go racing the better.

"It's going to be normal and abnormal at the same time,” The Frenchman added.

"We're going to go back to racing and driving cars, but also we'll have a limited amount of people around and no spectators. So, some things will be very different and some things will be the same.

"But it's going to be good. But everyone is looking forward to going back racing."