Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff faces a tough call to make with his staff at Mercedes should Formula 1 go ahead with the Turkish Grand Prix. As of now, preliminary reports suggest that it will get cancelled.
Turkey was placed on the UK Government’s red-list of countries to avoid. Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, all those who have visited Turkey and wish to return to the UK have to quarantine for 10 days.
Major sporting events scheduled to be held in the country have already been shifted to other arenas. Among these is the prestigious UEFA Champions League final.
People are also discouraged from going to Turkey from the UK. The only alternative is to travel and stay on the road before heading to France for the next race.
Neither option seems particularly viable. There is thus a high possibility the race which was the replacement for the Canadian Grand Prix will be moved to a different location. Possible alternatives drawn up include the Nürburgring in Germany and the Mugello in Italy.
Wolff and Steiner explain logistical hurdle
Talking about the situation, Wolff said, “First of all, it is clearly not enjoyable to be quarantined for two weeks in a hotel anywhere in the world.”
He added, “Stefano (the CEO of Formula 1) is going to look at how to organise ourselves and only when we have a more clear picture can we then decide who stays on the road and who stays home.”
Wolff will have many backers for his concerns, including Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner. Although the latter isn’t the biggest fan of Wolff, he has already been vocal in his opposition for the race going ahead as planned.
“Everything is possible but there is a limit of what you can ask people to do,” said Steiner. “We have to be respectful because we cannot have people not going home for six weeks. That is not fair.”