The French Grand Prix, currently scheduled for June 28, is the first meeting that has yet to be postponed, but Brawn thinks a July start date is more feasible and it could be “self-contained,” without fans in attendance.
“Our view is probably a European start will be favorable and that could even be a closed event. We could have a very enclosed environment, where teams come in on charters, we channel them into the circuit, we make sure everyone is tested, cleared and that there is no risk to anyone.
“We have a race with no spectators. That’s not great, but it’s better than no racing at all. We have to remember there are millions of people who follow the sport sat at home. A lot of them are isolating and to be able to keep the sport alive and put on a sport and entertain people would be a huge bonus in this crisis we have.”
Brawn believes that completing a “18-19 race season” is possible — which would mean losing three races from the original 22-race schedule — even if that means extending the season into 2021.
“We could achieve eight races by starting in October,” the former team principal said. “But then there is always the possibility we could run into next year.
“That’s being explored. Can we stray into January to finish the season? There are all sorts of complications, as you can imagine, with that. “If we were able to start at the beginning of July we could do a 19-race season. (It would be) tough — three races on, one weekend off, three races on, one weekend off.”
Brawn’s comments come a day after Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto said F1 needs to be “flexible” to fit as many races into the 2020 calendar.
More intense grand prix weekends have been mooted, with the possibility of having races on both the Saturday and Sunday suggested.
“From our side, we are ready for whatever is needed whether short race weekends, double races, whenever it will finish or packing the races together. It is important to be flexible and making sure we can have good races as well for the fans.”