The British government has given the go-ahead for a double-header British Grands Prix this year.
Formula 1’s plans to host two races at Silverstone were threatened when the government imposed a 14-day quarantine for anyone entering the country, with exemptions for just a handful of workers.
F1 bosses have continued to hold close talks with the government in the hope of finding a solution and last week it emerged that Prime Minister Boris Johnson had stepped in and requested ministers find a way of allowing the races to happen.
It now appears this has happened, with ‘elite sports’ set to earn an exemption so long as they lay out a detailed plan on how they intend to operate in a safe manner to avoid spreading the coronavirus.
F1 has set out its plans already to create a so-called ‘biosphere’ environment in which F1 personnel will not come into contact with the general public, they will be tested every two days, crews will be cut to a minimum and races will be held without spectators.
The government is expected to announce its plans in the coming weeks, but has reportedly informed F1 that it can push ahead with its plans for a double-header on August 2 and 9, which will form rounds three and four of the delayed 2020 calendar, which is set to be published Monday.
An F1 spokesperson said on the matter: “We welcome the government’s efforts to ensure elite sport can continue to operate and their support for our return to racing.
“We will maintain a close dialogue with them in the coming weeks as we prepare to start our season in the first week of July.”
The first race will be held in Austria on July 5, followed by a second race at the Spielberg circuit on July 12, before the F1 circus heads to Hungary and then the UK.
Spain, Belgium and Italy are set to complete the European-leg of the season before heading to the Americas and then the Middle East, though there are hopes some asian races, specifically Vietnam, can still be held.
