Pirelli's Hembery: F1's plan to race in July 'desperate and misguided'

Paul Hembery, former motorsport director and current CEO for the Latin American chapter of Pirelli, is slamming Formula 1's plan to begin the 2020 season in early July.

"F1 looks at best desperate and misguided," Hembery said in a social media post, according to Ryan Wood of Motorsport Week. "Maybe at worse misleading, or was this (statement) for the shareholders and the stock market?"

Hembery's comments come shortly after F1 CEO Chase Carey released a plan for a 15-to-18 race calendar beginning in Austria on the first weekend of July. The plan also involves gradually moving between continents as conditions improve through December, though no formal calendar has been finalized.

"Europe is in lockdown, so any idea of having races in July would be foolhardy given the unknowns," Hembery said, according to Sports Mole, adding that he considers the plan to be "reckless."

"If there was any statement from F1, then it should have been one canceling the season and working on a genuine plan B. It's all about money and survival, the same as any business. F1 is not immune."

The 2020 F1 season was set to get underway in Australia on March 15. However, the coronavirus pandemic has caused worldwide cancellations to gatherings and sporting events. The new campaign has yet to begin with the French Grand Prix in late May the latest to be canceled.