Skip to main content

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.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

How much time has Aston Martin gained with its F1 Hungarian GP update?

Formula 1
Hungarian GP
How much time has Aston Martin gained with its F1 Hungarian GP update?

Antonelli hit with grid drop for yellow flag infringement in F1 Hungarian GP qualifying

Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Antonelli hit with grid drop for yellow flag infringement in F1 Hungarian GP qualifying

Hamilton slapped with grid drop for impeding Piastri in F1 Hungarian GP qualifying

Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Hamilton slapped with grid drop for impeding Piastri in F1 Hungarian GP qualifying

Russell to undergo Mercedes engine change but avoids F1 Hungarian GP grid drop

Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Russell to undergo Mercedes engine change but avoids F1 Hungarian GP grid drop

Verstappen on latest Red Bull woes: "Desperate? I'm already past that stage"

Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Verstappen on latest Red Bull woes: "Desperate? I'm already past that stage"

Alonso explains how the impact of Aston Martin’s upgrades go further than Hungarian GP qualifying breakthrough

Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Alonso explains how the impact of Aston Martin’s upgrades go further than Hungarian GP qualifying breakthrough

Antonelli risks grid drop as stewards launch Hungarian GP qualifying investigation

Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Antonelli risks grid drop as stewards launch Hungarian GP qualifying investigation

Hamilton under investigation by stewards over impeding Piastri in Hungarian GP qualifying

Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Hamilton under investigation by stewards over impeding Piastri in Hungarian GP qualifying

MotoGP prepared to enforce Monday races after Silverstone cancellation

MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta has indicated he is willing to enforce delaying races until Monday if necessary in future, in the wake of last month's British Grand Prix being cancelled

Delaying the doomed Silverstone race by a day Monday was one option that was discussed by Dorna, teams and the British GP venue itself, an avenue made more feasible by the fact it was a bank holiday in the UK.

How MotoGP's 2018 British GP was doomed in '17

But this course of action was ultimately rejected by the majority of teams, some of which were having to head straight to Aragon for private testing, although Ducati notably was in favour of a Monday race.

But Ezpeleta said in future instances where it is impossible to hold the race on Sunday, MotoGP will tell riders and organisers they must be prepared to race on Monday, or even Tuesday, instead.

"It's a shame but it's an experience we could and should learn from," said Ezpeleta in an interview with Spanish TV network Movistar.

"We must think about what we can do so it doesn't happen again.

"It's important that everybody knows that if the race can't be held on the Sunday, we will race on Monday or Tuesday. We come here to race.

"[In the safety commission] I will let the riders know, that there will always be a safe race, always when possible but [it must be] safe - I don't like to change the rules, and this wasn't confirmed.

"From now on we will race on a Monday, if it's possible to race on the Monday.

"I will tell them to be prepared to race the following day. We must also tell this to the organisers."

The 2009 Qatar season opener (pictured above) was pushed back to Monday when it had to be called off due to rain, while this year's Silverstone race was the first MotoGP round called off due to poor weather entirely since the 1980 Austrian GP.

Pramac Ducati rider Jack Miller said he was surprised given the more complex logistics of the Qatar situation that the teams were not willing to pursue a similar path at Silverstone.

"The race of course is what we are all here for, and logistically, they changed schedule, flights for all the teams for a race in Qatar," commented the Australian.

"To fly from England, almost everybody is based in Europe, so it's a lot cheaper buying flights for that than buying flights for Qatar.

"I believe that [decision] should have been put down to the riders. I believe we still should have gone ahead with the grand prix.

"We make a calendar for 19 races and we don't do them all."

Previous article Misano MotoGP: Dovizioso leads practice, Marquez and Rossi midfield
Next article What if MotoGP had a 'transfer window?'

Top Comments

Latest news