Carmelo Ezpeleta is preparing to face the obstacles that the health crisis will undoubtedly throw up in his desire to make this 2021 season a campaign worthy of a major World Championship. He has the experience from last year and is therefore ready for all eventualities. Unlike a year ago, the threat is identified, the countermeasures are in place and the vaccine is on the way. However, some sacrifices will still have to be made. Dorna's boss tells us all about this...
Carmelo Ezpeleta will return to battle in 2021 with the same vigor as in 2020 against the pitfalls of health crisis which does not, for the moment, decrease in intensity. At stake, its paddock and its Grands Prix. The calendar will therefore be constantly adapted to the needs, a flexibility already verified with the postponement of the first off-season tests planned for Sepang, Malaysia, Qatar, a month later on the Losail route.
On the general situation, the boss of the promoter Dorna explain : " there is less fear and uncertainty than last year. We all proved to ourselves last year that we were capable of making the championship. I wish things had turned out differently, but unfortunately that's not the case. But still, we want to start and see some races, with the hope that they will be as exciting as last year ».
The new element this year, however, is the existence of vaccines: “ the subject of the vaccine is still very reserved for personnel at risk and not for normal people. I hope we end the year with everyone vaccinated, but we'll see. We are in contact with the authorities of each country and see how it goes. For now, the Qatari protocol will be the same as the one we had in Portimao, during the last event last year ».
Ezpeleta believes in vaccination
A situation which annihilates, for the moment, any hope of seeing a large audience return to the stands. Behind closed doors may therefore still be required: “lMarch 28, in Qatar, seems very close, but there are still several days left and I hope the pandemic weakens. February is going to be critical for there to be any improvement and from there we will see. It's clearly a meeting to meeting thing. » says Ezpeleta on AS.
« We have to see how things evolve. Last year we had spectators in Misano and Le Mans and it went well, because not a single one was contaminated and, however, in Portimao we wanted there to be an audience and that was not the case. was not possible » recalls the Spaniard who set at 18 the number of Grand Prix this year.
