Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey has expressed optimism that the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic will not have a knock-on effect on the 2021 schedule.
Almost half of this year’s planned 22 events have so far been postponed or cancelled due to the pandemic, with no certainty that the remaining grands prix can take place as expected.
Events in Australia, Monaco and France have been cancelled, while Bahrain, China, Vietnam, the Netherlands, Spain, Canada and Azerbaijan are provisionally postponed.
It is hoped that the season can begin with two races in Austria in July, followed by a similar structure in Britain, ahead of further rounds in Europe, Asia and America.
The current intention is to conclude the 2020 season in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi in mid-December.
Formula 1 had been striving to expand its calendar in recent years, with a Grand Prix in Miami provisionally agreed for May 2021, and an event in Saudi Arabia mooted.
Of the original 2020 grands prix it is understood that Spain – which was handed a one-year contract for this season – and Brazil are the events most at risk at dropping from the schedule.
When asked whether Liberty Media anticipated a 22-race schedule in 2021, Carey replied: “We don’t have a magic number, but the answer is yes.
“Our goal is to have 2021 look like the 2021 we planned back in January.
“Ultimately we have renewals to put in place, and we have some ongoing discussions with a potential couple of new races that we think would be a positive enhancement to the business for fans and shareholders.
“But we expect 2021 to look like the 2021 we were looking at in January, so if we planned on 22 races then, again, we don’t have a magic number but we’d still be planning on 22 races.”
