‘Reverse layouts would require massive changes’

Christian Horner says setting up reverse layouts would involve a “massive amount of work” in order to make sure the track is safe.

Formula 1 is hoping to start the 2020 season in July with a double header at the Red Bull Racing before moving onto Silverstone.

There was a bit of talk about running the second of either, or both, races on a reverse layout in order to add to the excitement.

Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle said he was open to the idea.

“It’s not such a silly thought,” he said.

“We’re not licensed to run the other way, but these are extraordinary times, and I guess that extraordinary decisions are being made.”

Later he conceded that it is easier said than done because of the safety aspects.

“The most far-fetched example of breaking the old rule book, status quo, is running in reverse,” he said, “because we know there are sections of the track that would require quite a bit of work and that’s probably not practical or sensible.”

Red Bull team boss Horner agrees that running a race with a reverse layout would involve a “massive” amount of work as the track’s safety features would have to be altered.

That would not only involve moving safety barriers but also redesigning the gravel traps.

Horner doesn’t believe it will happen.

“We looked at this in Austria, but the amount of changes you’d have to make from a safety point of view, because all the barriers are effectively in the wrong places,” he told the ‘Talking Bull’ podcast.

“I mean, technically you could do it, but from a safety point of view, it would be a massive amount of work to put the gravel traps in the right places and so on.

“But Austria would probably be one of the more straightforward ones.”

He added: “Can you image doing Eau Rouge the other way?”

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