Seidl: Triple-headers can’t become ‘new standard’

Jamie Woodhouse
Andreas Seidl

McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl understands why triple-headers are needed in 2020, but says they can’t set a trend for the future.

The season was supposed to start back in March as it traditionally does with the Australian Grand Prix, but ultimately the new campaign was pushed back to the early stages of July with the Red Bull Ring kicking off proceedings.

That marked the start of a triple-header with a second race following at the Red Bull Ring, before Formula 1 completed its third race in as many weekends with the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Formula 1 takes a one-week break before moving on to Silverstone for back-to-back race weekends at the Northamptonshire track, marking the start of the next triple-header which will be completed in Spain.

There is then another set to happen from August into September, and a final triple-header from October through to the start of November after the Nurburgring, Portimao and Imola were added to the 2020 calendar.

Teams were united in wanting to see triple-headers banished for good after their first taste of the concept in 2018, though Seidl understands their return under the special circumstances of this season.

That being said, he stresses that triple-headers must be a one-off for 2020.

“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,” he is quoted by Autosport.

“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.”

After the upcoming triple-header made up by Silverstone and the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Formula 1 will have a free weekend before starting the next one at Spa, Monza and Mugello.

There will be a free weekend either side of the Russian Grand Prix, before the remaining three races planned at the Nurburgring, Portimao Circuit and Imola are contested on consecutive weekends.

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