Quarantine measures could push Silverstone races to August

Two proposed British Grands Prix could be moved into August if it means the UK government do not insist on a 14-day quarantine period, according to Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle.

Plans for two races at the English track were thrown into turmoil when the government offered no exemption to elite sport in its plan to introduce a two-week isolation period for arrivals into the country from June 8.

F1 organisers are aiming to start the season with the Austrian Grand Prix on July 5 behind closed doors, followed by a second race at the Red Bull Ring a week later.

It was hoped Silverstone could then host two races in back-to-back weekends, also without spectators.

“We have got our original dates in mid-to-late July but we have got a degree of flexibility in August. I don’t think it will be a problem finding dates for two races,” Pringle told Sky Sports.

“What we need is the green light from government and that will take time. formula One as a championship needs that exemption.

“For Silverstone we can probably move into August with our dates but it is essential there is clarity on the quarantine situation ahead of that.”

Should no exemption be granted, the quarantine measures could have huge impact on the rest of the F1 season.

Seven of the 10 teams on the formula One grid have bases in England.

European football competitions could also be significantly affected if restrictions last into August.

Pringle, though, remains confident a breakthrough will be found in the coming weeks.

“We are still liaising with government but I am encouraged that there is progress,” he added.

“It will take a few weeks for the way to become clear but it definitely feels we are moving in the right direction.”

Whistleblowers’ hotline

Formula One’s governing body has set up an online 24-hour ‘ethics and compliance hotline’ for whistleblowers to report suspicious behaviour or concerns of possible misconduct in motorsport.

Formula One is set to introduce a $145 million budget cap for the 10 teams next year, with whistle-blowing seen as a component of that.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said on Tuesday the new platform fia-ethicsline.com/index.php would help safeguard “the integrity and reputation of motorsport and automobile mobility worldwide”.

The main areas concern violations of the FIA’s ethical principles, issues related to sporting integrity and/or manipulation of competitions and anti-doping regulations.

Full confidentiality will be assured. The FIA also warned that anyone found to have intentionally made a false or misleading claim to create harm could face disciplinary measures, including criminal charges.

Formula One had a controversy last season when the legality of Ferrari’s engine was under scrutiny, with Italian media suggesting a whistleblower had made allegations.

The FIA and Ferrari eventually reached a confidential settlement, to the anger of rival teams.

The budget cap is due to be reduced further to $140 million in 2022 and $135 million from 2023.

Formula One has a history of whistleblowers providing important information.

A 2009 race-fixing scandal, when Renault were found to have ordered Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash deliberately to help team mate Fernando Alonso win, featured a whistleblower “Witness X” who had been aware of the plan and opposed it.

“The teams have, in a very crude sense, this internal policing going on because they know that this engineer will move to another team next season and you won’t be able to retain that information,” Formula One’s managing director for motorsport Ross Brawn told SportsPro in March.

“So there’s self-policing, there’s a whistleblowing system, and there’s a strong group of auditors.”

Agencies