The prospects of a British Grand Prix taking place in July have been boosted after the UK government published its coronavirus road map on Monday.
Formula 1’s 2020 season has yet to begin due to the coronavirus pandemic and all events until at least June have been either postponed or cancelled.
Formula 1 hopes to hold two races in Austria in early July followed by two races in Britain later in the month, with work ongoing in order to evaluate how the events can take place.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the UK on Sunday evening, and on Monday a step-by-step road map was published, with sporting events and international travel among the subjects outlined.
Step two of the ‘Our Plan to Rebuild: the UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy’ document includes sport and will take place no earlier than June 1, subject to certain conditions being met, likely on a case-by-case basis.
It details that it will “permit cultural and sporting events to take place behind closed-doors for broadcast, while avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact.”
The government is understood to be keen for sports to resume as quickly as possible, with the English Premier League having pinpointed June 12 as a date to restart the 2019/20 season.
Formula 1’s plan involves isolating personnel in England in mid-June prior to travelling to Austria for the opening round, and then returning to England for two races at Silverstone.
The government plans to introduce a mandatory 14-day self-isolation period for travellers entering the UK “as soon as possible”, though no date has been outlined for when this will begin.
However it referred to “a short list of exemptions” that would not have to abide by the regulation.
It is understood that Formula 1’s support series, Formula 2 and Formula 3, are in discussions over being part of the event in Austria and Britain, with a meeting taking place today (Monday) between teams and championship officials.
