Formula 1 was forced by the coronavirus to cancel a whole series of races or postpone until further notice. The CEO of F1 now indicates that an alternative calendar is ready.
The new Formula 1 season should have started in Australia in mid-March, but the Grand Prix was canceled at the last minute. Hereafter, more cancellations or temporary displacements followed. The Dutch GP also has to wait longer for its return on the calendar, because it would actually be driven next weekend. Now Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey comes with a official statement: the season will still start in July, provided the situation remains as favorable as it currently seems.
The Grand Prix of Austria thus becomes the season opener. On the circuit where Max Verstappen won the race in the past two years, the first race weekend of 2020 will take place from 3 to 5 July. “We focus on racing in Europe in July, August and early September. In September, October and November, we will race in Eurasia, Asia and the Americas. The season will end in the Gulf States in December, with Bahrain ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi. There are 15-18 races to run, “said Carey.
According to Carey, there will soon be a modified Formula 1 calendar that should provide more clarity. Then we will also see when the Dutch GP at Zandvoort will still be held. Carey indicates that in any case ‘the first races’ are expected to be held without an audience. The organization of the British GP has already announced that it will at least be so. That race will take place on July 19 and will remain on that date for the time being. The French Grand Prix, which is scheduled to take place on June 28, has been canceled due to the postponement of the start of the season. Contrary to several other GPs that have already been canceled, this will no longer be possible at all this year.