Formula 1 teams are set to retain their current allocation of power units for 2020 in spite of the imminent expansion of the calendar to 22 grands prix.
Formula 1 is set to feature a record-breaking 22 events next year, with the teams having agreed to add an extra grand prix compared to this season’s 21.
That is because officials in Spain – which was set to drop from the schedule – have been granted a one-year extension by the local Catalan government.
Spain and Liberty Media have yet to finalise a 2020 agreement but it is expected to be a formality.
With Vietnam and the Netherlands joining, and Spain now staying, it means that there will be 22 events; Italy and Mexico, currently without confirmed 2020 deals, are poised to receive new deals.
Liberty Media needed approval from teams to expand the schedule and this has now been reached.
Part of the sticking point had been on whether Formula 1 teams should expand their engine allocation from three to four due to the extra event.
Opinion was split on the situation, with several teams wary that the increase in financial expenditure would not be equalised by the additional revenue that a 22nd event would bring.
“In a nutshell we basically agreed to have a 22nd race,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, regarding a meeting held between Formula 1 teams and CEO Chase Carey in Hungary.
“If [Liberty Media] are able to attract promoters then we’ve got to support them.
“We shouldn’t change the technical regulations for an additional race, this is the debate we had. It shouldn’t be seen as an opportunity to increase the number of components.”
Only Australia, on March 15, has a confirmed 2020 date, but Bahrain is expected to follow two weeks later, prior to a China/Vietnam back-to-back in mid-April.
This frees up May for a double-header involving the Netherlands and Spain, before a two-week gap to allow Monaco to take up its usual date towards the end of the month.
Azerbaijan is likely to move to a June date, running back-to-back with Canada, as part of the country's desire to align its Formula 1 event with its duties as a Euro 2020 host country.
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