“Clockwise on Saturday, Counter Clockwise on Sunday”- Former F1 Champion Suggests a New Weekend Format to Save the 2020 Season

Former F1 driver and 2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg has a unique solution to the 2020 calendar crisis. Rosberg believes F1 can run multiple races on a race weekend but with a modified track configuration. The German driver also stressed the importance of the sport looking after its midfield to stop teams from bowing out.

Rosberg’s solution to the F1 calendar crisis

Formula 1 recently postponed the Canadian Grand Prix, taking the tally of delayed or canceled races to 9. The French Grand Prix now stands as the tentative start to the 2020 season. However, many experts believe the race in France is also likely to be canceled as the country battles COVID-19. The 2020 calendar is predicted to kick off with the Austrian Grand Prix in July.

Even a start date as late as July is optimistic considering the current scenario. F1 plans to hold the European rounds initially with no spectators to squeeze in a few races this season. However, the sport’s ambitious plan to conduct 19 races for the 2020 championship is a bit rich. Not impossible, but it would require some extreme measures to conduct 19 rounds in a short span of time.

Nico Rosberg believes F1 can hold dual races on a Grand Prix weekend. The German driver feels the sport can conduct a race on Saturday with the conventional track layout and switch to a reverse layout on Sunday.

Speaking to Deutsche Welle, Rosberg was quoted by Speedweek as follows:

“Nobody knows when it will start again, but I very much hope that it will be possible to run a few more races. Maybe you have to get creative and organize so-called doubleheader weekends.

“For example, the same slope can be used clockwise on Saturday and counterclockwise on Sunday”

The Former World Champion also extended support to the smaller teams.

F1’s midfield headache

“But the biggest problem right now is the financial situation of some of the smaller racing teams, because Formula 1 needs all teams. If two or three smaller teams fail, it is no longer a really great sport”

“Because the starting field will be too small. That is why financial aid for the smaller teams is now a priority”