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.”
Read Also:
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

Previous article
First look at F1 2020 gameplay shows full Zandvoort upgrades
Next article
Hungarian GP hopes hit by latest restrictions

About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Drivers | Esteban Ocon |
Teams | Renault F1 Team |
Author | Luke Smith |
Ocon expecting "very weird atmosphere" at closed door races
Trending
Sergio Perez's First Drive With Red Bull Racing
Alfa Romeo C41 and Alfa Romeo C39 Compared
Say Hello To The RB16B | Unveiling Our 2021 Car
The pros and cons of F1's 2021 rule changes
In the strategy for grand prix racing's future, 2021 represents a significant step towards the goal of closer racing and a more level playing field. That's the theory behind the latest raft of changes, but will they have the desired effect?
What Red Bull is trying to hide with its RB16B launch
Red Bull made no secret of the fact its 2021 F1 car is an evolution of its predecessor, but in keeping the same foundations while hiding some tightly-guarded updates with its RB16B, the team aims to avoid suffering the same pitfalls of previous years
How Albon plans to fight his way out of Red Bull limbo
Alex Albon has faced the media for the first time since he lost his Red Bull drive at the end of 2020 and dropped out of a Formula 1 race seat altogether. He has a history of bouncing back from setbacks, so here's what he must do to rise again
Ranked! Carlin's greatest F1 graduates
Carlin has helped guide enough drivers to Formula 1 to fill out an entire grid, plus a handful of reserves, to create a remarkable alumni list. With Yuki Tsunoda set to join that group, Motorsport.com has ranked its graduates to grace the grand prix scene...
Why Alfa's 2021 launch says more about its 2022 plans
Alfa Romeo launched its C41 with a revised front nose, but there's little to suggest it will surge up the leaderboard in 2021. As the team frankly admits, it's putting its eggs in the basket labelled 2022 and hoping to hold the eighth place it earned last year
Why Gasly’s AlphaTauri haven is a blessing and a curse
Red Bull opted not to re-sign Pierre Gasly even before it decided to drop Alex Albon and so the Frenchman's Formula 1 journey will continue at AlphaTauri. This has positive and negative connotations for one of last season's star performers.
Eight things Red Bull must do to beat Mercedes in 2021
After seven years of defeat at the hands of Mercedes, Red Bull is as hungry as ever to secure a fifth world championship. But there are key challenges it must overcome in 2021 to switch from challenger to conqueror
How AlphaTauri has adapted to F1's new rules
AlphaTauri launched its AT02, complete with a new livery, as it bids to home in on an already-tight midfield battle. Although there were few outright new parts displayed on the launch render, there might be a few clues into further changes down the line…