Ocon expecting "very weird atmosphere" at closed door races
Esteban Ocon is anticipating a “very weird atmosphere” if Formula 1 is able to stage races without fans in the summer as intended.
F1 is pushing to start a 15-to-18 race season with the Austrian Grand Prix at the start of July, running the race behind closed doors amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The opening set of European races through July, August and September are expected to be run without fans until national restrictions allow large public gatherings.
Renault F1 driver Ocon said having a potential starting point for the season is “very, very important” to offer focus - but anticipated a strange atmosphere racing without fans.
“I would love to be back racing. I’m hearing lots of rumours that we could race there, do two races in one place,” Ocon said in an interview on Sky Sports.
“I’m sure everything is going to be well-organised for us to restart at some point, and it’s going to be safe for us to do so when we are going to do it.
“If that’s the only way we can restart, I would be very happy to do so.
“We will miss the fans, we will miss the interaction with them at the track. It’s going to be a very weird atmosphere.
“As long as we can put a good show on for them on TV, it would be better than nothing.”
One possibility is that F1 may run multiple races at the same track, with Austria being identified as a possible location where a double-header event may work.
Ocon previously raced with such a format in both GP3 and DTM, running multiple races on the same weekend, and was confident it could work well for F1.
“I had the experience of doing that in Formula 3 and DTM, two races at the same track, and it’s never the same results,” Ocon said.
“When you come back, you are stronger the second time, you know what to do and how to react to things. Things change and people work better on the second time, or don’t improve enough.
“So it’s going to be very different if we do it like that.”
Fans in a grandstand
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Share Or Save This Story
1998 Belgian GP: When the Schumachers went to war
The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
“I went back to the car and cried” – Esteban Ocon opens up about his unexpected year on F1 sidelines
You Ask The Questions: Esteban Ocon
Esteban Ocon attends "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" premiere after special F1 helmet collaboration
You Ask The Questions: Robert Kubica
On this day: Michael Schumacher’s final unsportsmanlike manoeuvre
20 years ago, Michael Schumacher held off Fernando Alonso in Imola F1 duel
DTM Nurburgring: Ferrari on pole, blow for title contender Nicki Thiim
Formula E nearly man Nick Cassidy "sad" he doesn't have a title
Max Verstappen pinpoints Red Bull's "big priority" for second half of F1 2026
George Russell still carries scars from 2020 Mercedes F1 call-up
Could McLaren follow Red Bull’s path with its own F1 engine – and should it?
Top 10 rookie seasons in F1
Why F1 shouldn’t be hiding its most interesting characters
100 not out: Alex Albon on Williams’s desire to atone for its 2026 struggles
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments