Formula 1 has formally released its calendar of European events for the 2020 season, with eight races planned at six venues across a two-month period.
Formula 1’s Commercial Rights Holder Liberty Media has been working on a revised schedule after the planned 2020 calendar was wrecked by the coronavirus pandemic.
It has now confirmed its roster of European events, taking in rounds in Austria, Hungary, Britain, Spain, Belgium and Italy.
Two races will be held apiece at the Red Bull Ring in Austria (July 5/12) and at Silverstone in Britain (August 2/9), with Hungary, at the Hungaroring, moving forward from its original August date to slot in on July 19.
This will allow Formula 1 personnel to travel straight from Austria to Hungary, beginning the campaign with three races in as many weeks.
The second round in Austria will be known as the Steiermark Grand Prix while the second event in Britain will be known as the 70th anniversary Grand Prix.
Steiremark is the German name for the Styria region in which the Red Bull Ring is located, while the event title for Silverstone’s second race has been chosen in honour of the first championship race, which took place in 1950.
The Spanish Grand Prix, originally set to be held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on May 10, has been confirmed for August 16, immediately after the back-to-back races at Silverstone.
Britain’s round had been placed under threat in the wake of the government’s decision to introduce a 14-day quarantine period for international travellers, but Formula 1 has received an exemption.
Grands prix at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium (August 30) and Monza in Italy (September 6) are scheduled to take place on their original respective dates.
All events remain subject to change should relevant authorities alter travel advice or restrictions due to the fluid nature of the coronavirus pandemic.
The eight rounds will all be ‘Closed Events’, limiting teams to 80 personnel each – of which only 60 are allowed to work on the cars – while spectators will not be permitted.
Teams will not be allowed to interact with each other and will stay in separate hotels, while private planes are set to be chartered to the relevant local airfield.
Paddock personnel will be tested for coronavirus on a regular basis.
The championship is continuing to work on the remainder of its 2020 calendar, and hopes to include as many rounds outside of Europe as possible.
It is understood that the postponed Azerbaijan round could take Singapore’s September 20 slot, running back-to-back with Russia, planned for September 27.
Formula 1 is continuing to assess the feasibility of rounds in Asia and the Americas in October and November, with China and Vietnam understood to be high priority on any revised list.
China remains one of Formula 1’s most lucrative events while Vietnam is poised to be the first new event fostered by Liberty Media since it acquired the championship in 2017.
The current proposal is for Formula 1 to round out its reduced campaign in the Middle East in December, with back-to-back races in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.
Bahrain was due to host the second round of the 2020 campaign in March but it is likely to instead receive a date of December 6, with Abu Dhabi’s season finale pushed back to December 13.
It is understood that further events could yet be held in Europe should Formula 1 deem that flyaway events are not feasible.
Events in Australia, the Netherlands, Monaco and France have already been cancelled for 2020.
| # | Race | Country | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Formula 1 Rolex Grosser Preis von Osterreich | Austria | July 5 |
| 2 | Formula 1 Pirelli Grosser Preis der Steiermark | Austria | July 12 |
| 3 | Formula 1 Aramco Magyar Nagydij | Hungary | July 19 |
| 4 | Formula 1 Pirelli British Grand Prix | Britain | August 2 |
| 5 | Emirates Formula 1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix | Britain | August 9 |
| 6 | Formula 1 Aramco Gran Premio de Espana | Spain | August 16 |
| 7 | Formula 1 Rolex Belgian Grand Prix | Belgium | August 30 |
| 8 | Formula 1 Gran Premio Heineken d’Italia | Italy | September 6 |
