Why Austria's success doesn't mean F1 is out of the woods

Formula 1 could rightly feel proud of itself after its Austrian double-header, having laid out a blueprint for the world on how global sporting events can take place amid the threat of coronavirus.

To have successfully pulled off a two-week stint at the Red Bull Ring, with the 2000 people present having gone through 10,000 COVID-19 swab tests without a single positive result, was testament to the strict protocols that F1 and the FIA put in place.

Sure it was frustrating for some, with F1 losing almost all of the paddock interaction that creates much of the championship's fantastic soap opera drama: but that was a small price to pay for ensuring that there was no repeat of the events that forced the original season opener in Australia to be cancelled on the Friday morning.

The whole world is now so much more knowledgeable about how to deal with the coronavirus pandemic and, for F1, perhaps Austria highlights just how badly prepared the series was for what happened in Melbourne. It is certain that if everyone in the category knew back then what they did now, then things would have likely turned out very different in March.

But, despite the success of Austria, which will give F1 some confidence that it can go on and deliver the 15 races it needs to successfully fulfil its TV contracts, it is far too premature to suggest that grand prix chiefs can relax and think it's job done now and everything becomes straightforward.

Indeed, the formal notifications that were handed out to F1 teams and other attendees last weekend about the strict lockdown rules that will be put in place for Hungary were a harsh reminder that the championship is not necessarily in control of its destiny.

Whereas some mechanics and other F1 personnel may have been looking forward to the prospect of perhaps a night out in Budapest after two weeks of isolation in Austria, that all came crashing down when all British and non-EU personnel were told that anyone venturing outside their hotels - except to go to the track - risked being thrown in jail or a massive fine.

"Attendees of UK or other non-EU or EEA nationality should not leave the venue or their accommodation for any reason, other than for travel between the two locations and for their pre-arranged arrival and departure to and from Hungary," said a note sent to teams, which banned eating out and using public transport or taxis.

"Failure to adhere to these additional restrictions will be punishable by the Hungarian authorities and may result in imprisonment and/or fines of up to approximately 15,000 Euros."

The response from teams is one of acceptance, and that if F1 wants to go racing - which is essential for the survival of the teams - then sacrifices like this need to be made.

Not having a vaccine in the short term may mean F1 having to continue with its social bubble plans for this season at least, but there could be even more complications about where the series goes as the world tries to move away from the pandemic

As Haas team boss Gunther Steiner said: "I know it's not what you want to hear, that you cannot go out. But it is one race and I think we should be happy that we can go racing there and we should respect their rules, and what they tell us to do. So I do not see a problem with it, you know."

But potential lockdown enforcement at events may well be the least of F1's concerns, for there seems little hope of normality returning soon - and that means longer-term calendar headaches.

FIA president Jean Todt was certainly speaking in cautious terms about the speed by which things can progress from here when he spoke to media at the Red Bull Ring.

Referencing a lunch he had recently with medical experts, including FIA advisor Professor Eric Caumes, his view was that things will not return to normal for a while - and indeed may never.

"We're going through an unprecedented time," he said. "I asked when we could expect to have a vaccine, and Professor Caumes said, 'We're waiting since 40 years for the vaccine for HIV'.

"So, I mean, we will face a second phase. We could face a third phase.

"We have [to wear] a mask, and minimum [social distancing] rules. We need to make this test every five days to try to bring back the sport. But saying that, we are not going to bring the sport as it was, and it will never be the same. So I mean, we are going through an historical moment."

Not having a vaccine in the short term may mean F1 having to continue with its social bubble plans for this season at least, but there could be even more complications about where the series goes as the world tries to move away from the pandemic.

Last week it was fascinating to hear about how in 2021, F1 could be stuck in a Catch-22 situation of where to hold races.

Those places where coronavirus has been contained and poses no risk to the championship may not want 2000 F1 people suddenly descending on them: while other locations where the outbreak is still running wild may not be especially top of the list of venues that F1 will want to go to.

I asked Professor Caumes on what his feeling was for how soon he believed normality could return to F1. He did not sense it happening soon.

"I think it will take time, because this is a very interesting question," he said. "I think within one year, we will have countries, which will be COVID free. Like for instance Singapore, or Vietnam, Hong Kong, South Korea and Australia probably and New Zealand.

"So, there will be countries which should be COVID free on one side. On the other side, countries where you will have COVID still circulating, either at a low level, or at a high level, according to if they have performed lockdown or not.

"For instance in Brazil there is no lockdown. So, within one year, or two years, nearly all the population will be immunised, so there will not be a big risk. There will be a low risk but not a big risk.

Those places where coronavirus has been contained and poses no risk to the championship may not want 2000 F1 people suddenly descending on them

"Conversely, in Southeast Asian countries, those I mentioned before, you will have no risk at all, but probably you will not be welcome because you will come from countries where the virus will be circulating. So probably they will ask you to test before you come or they will quarantine you for 14 days, before you can go in the country how you want. That's my gut feeling."

Plotting a 2021 calendar against that backdrop is certainly not the work of the moment.

While right now the biggest annoyance for many people in F1 is simply the quality of room service in their Budapest hotel rooms, for F1's bosses, with uncertainty over where the world goes from here, the real difficulties in keeping the F1 show on the road may still be to come.