F1 expects summer start for 2020 season, aiming for 15 to 18 races

  • Published on 23 Mar 2020 19:40
  • comments 4
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Formula 1 is aiming to start the 2020 Formula 1 season in the summer with a revised calendar consisting of 15 to 18 grands prix.

The opening eight races on the original schedule have been impacted by the coronavirus, with six events being postponed. Australia and Monaco have cancelled their events for the year.

MOREAzerbaijan GP latest F1 event to be postponed due to coronavirus

The usual summer break has been pushed forward to run in March and April, consisting of three weeks in which no factory work will take place at any of the team's bases.

This will allow for a more condensed calendar to be formed later in the year, should the season get underway amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In a new statement, F1 CEO Chase Carey said: “Over the past week, Formula 1, the ten F1 teams and the FIA have come together and taken rapid, decisive action as part of our initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While at present no-one can be certain of exactly when the situation will improve, it will improve and when it does, we will be ready to go racing again. We are all committed to bringing our fans a 2020 Championship Season.

“We recognise there is significant potential for additional postponements in currently scheduled events, nonetheless we and our partners fully expect the season to start at some point this summer, with a revised calendar of between 15-18 races.

“As previously announced we will utilise the summer break being brought forward to March/April, to race during the normal summer break period and anticipate the season end date will extend beyond our original end date of 27-29th November, with the actual sequence and schedule dates for races differing significantly from our original 2020 calendar.

“It is not possible to provide a more specific calendar now due to the fluidity of the current situation but we expect to gain clearer insights to the situation in each of our host countries, as well as the issues related to travel to these countries, in the coming month.” 

Carey asserted that F1 “now intends to race through the period normally set aside for the summer break and fulfil lost events from the first part of this year.”

He added that the lengthy break between the end of the 2019 season and the start of 2020 means F1 can experiment with other aspects of the sport.

“This flexibility offers an opportunity to evolve the sport, experiment and try new things,” he said.

“That may include initiatives such as expanding our esports platform, developing more innovative content like Netflix's Drive to Survive, and other creative ways to drive ongoing value for the sport’s sponsor partners, broadcast partners, race promoters, teams and fans – the ecosystem of our fantastic sport.

“Between Formula 1, the teams and the FIA, working with our key stakeholders, we are planning and fully committed to returning to the track at the earliest opportunity to commence the 2020 season.

“We will continue to take advice from health officials and experts, as our first priority continues to be the safety and health of our fans, the communities we visit and those within the Formula 1 family.

“We’re confident we’ll all get through this and see better days, ahead, and, when we do, we will ensure that everyone invested in this sport at every level feels rewarded.”

15/18 races suggests a non-stop run, every weekend starting in June and finishing end Nov. No way that's going to happen.

  • 1
  • Mar 23 2020 - 20:14

Replies (4)

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  • 15/18 races suggests a non-stop run, every weekend starting in June and finishing end Nov. No way that's going to happen.

    • + 1
    • Mar 23 2020 - 20:14
    • The only way they could make that happen is if they only race in Europe - there is no way they would have time to ship the equipment to places like China, Australia, Vietnam, etc. But utilising 15 or so European circuits could work - although bloody tight!

      • + 0
      • Mar 23 2020 - 22:54
    • It can work with tracks in other continents too, but it'll be mighty tight.

      • + 0
      • Mar 24 2020 - 06:17
  • If ten races are postponed/cancelled - assuming 18 is the target, then it might require some of the races not yet impacted to volunteer to not host this season - that might not be a problem in the event - but I cannot see that happening unless the seasons stretches into December.

    • + 0
    • Mar 24 2020 - 08:09

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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
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United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
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