No followers, just cows in campsites ahead of closed Austrian GP

The signage exterior the Red Bull Ring declares ‘Welcome Race Fans’ however none have been to be seen on Wednesday because the Austrian circuit ready for Formula One’s first Grand Prix with out spectators.

Cows grazed in a discipline that usually serves as a crowded campsite close to to the circuit, whereas staff carried out duties across the monitor.

There have been no tents, no followers and no curious bystanders aside from some native cyclists going for a spin alongside the highway exterior.

A small thunderstorm broke in the night over a abandoned paddock stripped of the standard palatial motorhomes that the groups use to entertain friends and sponsors and to feed their workers in shifts.

None can be wanted this weekend as the game will get to grips with a ‘new regular’ following the COVID-19 epidemic that has pressured a delay of greater than 100 days for the season to get going.

Sunday would be the first time that Austria has hosted a season-opener and the race may even be the newest begin date to a championship.

The 10 groups have been flying in on constitution planes to the non-public terminal at close by Zeltweg airport, from the place they went on to isolation in accommodations earlier than the routine of transfers to and from the circuit.

Formula One will function in ‘bubbles inside bubbles’, the groups preserving aside from one another and the surface world and likewise working in numerous sub-groups to minimise the chance of contagion.

All examined detrimental for COVID earlier than departure and should bear checks each 5 days for the following three weeks with two back-to-back races in Austria adopted by a visit to close by Hungary.

The drivers will face the world’s media on Thursday by way of digital information conferences, with all however a small contingent of completely accredited reporters taking part from afar.