The FIA is working on “back-up plans” to save the rest of the Eifel Grand Prix weekend in the event the medical helicopter remains grounded due to poor weather conditions.
Friday practice at the Nurburgring passed without any on-track action as fog prevented the medical helicopter from being able to fly to receiving hospitals.
F1 rules stipulate a maximum transfer from circuit to hospital of 20 minutes by road, and the nearest one to the Nurburgring is 54km away.
Adding the German track to the COVID-19-hit calendar in early October meant F1 was braced for a tricky weekend weather-wise in the Eifel region. However, cold temperatures and rain would be manageable without the fog.
The forecast is better for Saturday, with showers predicted on Sunday. But FIA race director Michael Masi said that alternative plans were being worked on in case Friday’s problem continues.
“The weather and dampness is fine, it’s just that the medical helicopter is not able to fly to receiving hospitals due to fog,” said Masi.
“So even though we have the broadcast helicopter that’s flying around the circuit, to go from here to any of the hospitals should something happen it’s not possible.
“The forecast [for Saturday] looks better but we’re also working on some back-up plans should we have a similar situation to be able to try to work around.
“We’re working on those as we speak.”
Asked what those plans could be, Masi replied: “We’ll work on the back-up plans and advise everyone accordingly at the same time.”
One option could be to create a temporary trauma centre that could be reached in time by road.
Friday’s wasted sessions pose an interesting challenge for teams and drivers to react to, with only one one-hour practice session now scheduled on Saturday before qualifying.
Racing Point boss Otmar Szafnauer said it was “kind of like a practice run” for F1’s return to Imola next month, when the championship will trial a two-day format at the Italian circuit, albeit with an hour and a half at Imola instead of the usual 60-minute FP3.
“It just puts pressure on everybody to get up to speed more quickly,” he said.
Cancelled practice thwarts Ferrari proteges’ debuts
Ferrari Formula 2 drivers Mick Schumacher and Callum Ilott were due to run in FP1 at the Nurburgring for Alfa Romeo and Haas respectively.
There is unlikely to be another opportunity to make their FP1 debuts before the Abu Dhabi season finale, Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto said.
This is because the next few races taken places at a mix of venues F1 has minimal contemporary experience at, and Schumacher/Ilott need to focus on their F2 programmes in Bahrain.
“Obviously, it’s been a shame not to be able to get out,” said Schumacher.
“We knew that the weather forecast didn’t look great. This time of the year in the Eifel is not the most sure that it’s going to be dry.
“The preparation was good, we’ve done a lot of meetings and I got so much knowledge of it, it’s been very helpful.”
Asked by The Race about FP1 future outings, Schumacher said: “We have to wait and see how things develop.
“Obviously there are a lot of tracks coming up which are not often driven on, so the official drivers need their time in the car. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Schumacher also confirmed he hasn’t got any other old-car running lined up “at the moment”.
He, Ilott and Robert Shwartzman – another of Ferrari’s prospects who is a race winner in his rookie F2 season – drove Ferrari’s 2018 car at Fiorano last week.
Shwartzman is scheduled to drive in FP1 at Abu Dhabi so unless Ferrari makes one of its own cars available, or convinces a customer team to give up both FP1 seats, then one of the trio will miss out on their planned FP1 experiences.
Ilott said: “Obviously it wasn’t the most ideal session from everyone’s point of view. Nevertheless, it’s been a great experience to come here and prepare as a driver would in Formula 1.
“From that side I’ve learned a lot, it certainly hasn’t been a wasted opportunity.
“I would have loved to have been able to go out and do some laps of course, but unfortunately the weather set against that.
“Hopefully I can get another opportunity before the end of the year, but if this is the only one then it’s been an experience.
“I have to take away from it all the positives I can – even with what’s happened, I’ll be better prepared for another opportunity.”
