Nothing could ever offset the humanitarian disaster that COVID-19 has presented to every aspect of our lives, but the strength of a civilised society is seen in its response to a crisis. Be it financial, medical or societal, there are many examples where adversity has been a precursor to an emergence into a leaner, fitter and more efficient way of doing things.
So it has come to pass in Formula 1 too. After the full impact of events in Melbourne hit home, both FOM and the FIA began working to see what could be done not just to survive the short-term effects of the virus but to seize the opportunity to bring Formula 1 back in a manner that would be more sustainable for the teams as well as providing the fans with the best possible spectacle under the inevitably difficult circumstances that the 2020 season was going to present.
The result was in effect a 'new deal' for F1 with 23 specific changes and a multitude of sub-changes within these broader headlines. There was also a commitment to continue the work and develop ideas and themes further as the year and season progresses.