The bleak yet seemingly inevitable news on Wednesday that the June 14 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal will be joining a growing list of Formula One races postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic further darkened a 2020 season that has yet to get started.
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This in the ninth race affected by COVID-19 in a campaign that was due to begin with big fanfare on March 15 with the curtain-raising Australian Grand Prix. But that contest was forced onto the hard shoulder only two days before flag up and every consecutive race has followed suit — including the showcase Monaco Grand Prix.
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One of the season’s major talking points was meant to be defending champion Lewis Hamilton and his attempt to continue his recent dominance in the sport and claim his seventh world drivers’ title - no mean feat in what was to be a gruelling record-length 22-race slog.
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Not only that but it would have taken the British Mercedes driver level with Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher with the most titles. The German’s dominance in from 1994-2004 broke new ground in the sport and he set a landmark few expected to be equalled, definitely not so soon.
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Yet, as Hamilton stands on the brink of his personal milestone (Mercedes are chasing their own in the constructors’ championship, fourth in the all-time list on six but still 10 behind Ferrari), fate has intervened to put the handbrake on his charge, while the momentum was with him and he was oozing confidence in Melbourne.
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All the signs were there for Hamilton to make a charge for the glory — the latest Mercedes is imperious, his famous rival Sebastian Vettel is on the wane, Max Verstappen is still a little to hot-headed and Charles Leclerc — the pretender to the throne — is still a little green.
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The ambitions of commercial rights holder Liberty Media are to get the championship started in the European summer with a reduced and greatly rearranged schedule of between 15 and 18 races that could run into the New Year, yet that looks increasingly optimistic as time goes on, more races drop off and the virus continues to claim lives. “At the moment it is crucial that all of our energies be put together to overcome COVID-19. We will welcome you with open arms at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve as soon as it is safe to do so,” said Canadian Grand Prix CEO Francois Dumontier.
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Formula One chairman Chase Carey said Formula One supported the “necessary decision to ensure the safety of fans and F1 community. “We always look forward to travelling to the incredible city of Montreal and while we will all have to wait a bit longer, we will put on a great show when we arrive later this year,” he added.
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If things clear up in time to have a curtailed season before the scheduled finale in Abu Dhabi in November, the normal marathon of a season would be shortened to a sprint for the line.
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If Lewis were to triumph in a shortened campaign, how would that leave his legacy? Would coming out on top over — say, eight — races detract from his previous achievements when compared to Schumacher? He is surely wishing there was another outcome, but it is a bit of a no-win situation — take the title and level with Schumi, but risk a devalued crown, or ride it out until next season, when Leclerc, Verstappen et al will be all the hungrier and his body will be that little bit older.
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