Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA
Breaking news

Hill: Shortened F1 season will lead to "flat-out" title fight

Damon Hill expects the 2020 Formula 1 season to have a “flat-out” nature, with the shortened calendar possibly meaning drivers cannot settle for lesser results when considering a title challenge.

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes F1 W11 EQ Performance, leads Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF1000

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes F1 W11 EQ Performance, leads Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF1000

Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

F1 bosses are aiming to hold “15-18” races in the coronavirus-delayed 2020 season, which will get underway with two races at the Red Bull Ring next month.

Even if the latter target is reached, that will still be F1’s shortest season since 2009, which could mean that drivers who are battling for the title taking more risks to get greater results, rather than opting for safer option to bank consistent points.

When discussing the disastrous consequences that can result from a driver backing off in an individual event for Autosport’s Race of My Life podcast – such as his crash in the 1996 Italian Grand Prix – Hill said:  "This year's championship is going to be curious because if they have a reduced number of races, it's going to be flat out every race.

“You're not going to get a chance to see whether or not there's a trend through the season, there's not going to be any development.

“So I think it's going to be quite an unusual kind of championship, this one."

 

 

The 1996 world champion's view is contrasted by that of Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas, who also acknowledges that the shortened nature of the 2020 season will impact how drivers approach races.

Bottas has outlined his opinion that with fewer races set to take place compared to the previous nine campaigns, any mistake in 2020 will be punished more heavily than in those past seasons, as drivers will have fewer opportunities to recover lost ground.

“It’s obviously going to be a pretty special season, because it’s going to be shorter than the planned amount of races,” Bottas told Sky Sports F1.

“Every mistake will cost you much more than previously, and it’s all about the consistency.”

Read Also:

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Leclerc runs 2020 F1 Ferrari on Maranello streets
Next article Marko opens up on Hamilton's fake quotes reaction

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA