Hasn’t life changed dramatically for us all since my last Auto Action column just a month ago?

The Coronavirus pandemic has created real challenges around the world; none more significant than for those struck down by the virus, or for our healthcare workers working around the clock treating the infected, and the massive number of people who have lost their jobs. It’s a difficult time for so many.

With that in mind, it’s essential for people like me who have been inconvenienced at worst to try and look at the positives, keep ourselves busy, and help out if we can.

My trip home for last month’s Australian Grand Prix has turned into an unexpected extended stay, and while I’d like to be racing, I am getting to spend a couple of months with my parents and sisters in Melbourne, which is a nice positive.

It’s the most extended stay I’ve had at home in the last five or six years, and that can only be a good thing.

Even though I’m almost 17,000km from London, I’ve still got plenty to keep me busy with training and schoolwork, and also staying in touch with Mark and Ann Webber.

We’ve got a pretty good home gym, so I’ve got all the tools to keep fit and keep up with my programs. The Renault Sport Academy has also been organising Skye gym session with all the academy boys once or twice a week and setting us a few challenges, so that’s been fun.

School is a little more complicated, especially as I’m nearing the end of my A-Levels at Haileybury near London. The time zone difference doesn’t work in my favour, but my teachers have been doing as much as they can to assist me.

Our exams have been cancelled, so it’s teacher assessments and working remotely while waiting for the official guidelines on what’s going to happen and organising online meetings with my teachers at times which work conveniently for us all.

There hasn’t been any further news on what’s happening with the FIA F3 Championship as yet, with no official rejigging of the calendar as they’re waiting to see what happens.

I think the plan from the championship is to keep the nine rounds and there’s undoubtedly enough F1 rounds going on to get in nine rounds so; hopefully, we’ll get in our full calendar.

The F3 Championship is another step up from Formula Renault with 30 fast, competitive drivers on the grid, including a few F1 junior academy drivers.

Like me, they’re all getting in extra training, so I have to make the most of all the physical exercise and keep my mind busy while still preparing for Round 1, whenever that might be.

Thanks to my family, my title-winning Formula Renault race car arrived in Melbourne the week before the Grand Prix. It’s a pretty cool thing to have and look back on in the years to come.

Hopefully, the Renault title was the first of many, so I might have to talk to dad about what happens if we win a few more championships. We might have to make more space available.

While I’d like to jump in, fire it up, and give it a few laps – it’s the closest thing to a current F3 car in Australia – I’m making sure I’m sticking to the government guidelines to stay healthy during the pandemic.

Please make sure you do too – stay safe, stay healthy, and self-distance.

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