Formula 1 is set to unveil a revised European portion of its 2020 calendar with the intention of running eight races at six locations across a 10-week period from July through September.
Formula 1’s 2020 schedule has been heavily disrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic, with the planned opening round of the campaign in Australia called off two hours before the start of practice.
Organisers in France and Monaco acted to cancel their 2020 events while on Thursday the receding hopes of re-arranging the Dutch Grand Prix were extinguished.
It means that the six remaining European countries that host grands prix are all set to feature on a revised calendar, which is due to be published next week.
Austria’s Red Bull Ring is poised to host the double-header season-opener across July 5/12, subject to ratification from the government and relevant authorities.
Hungary’s round has been moved forward to July 19, allowing personnel to head straight to the Hungaroring from the Red Bull Ring, with the two countries sharing a land border.
Two races are then set to be held in Britain on August 2 and 9, followed by the rescheduled Spanish Grand Prix, which was postponed from early May.
Britain’s rounds are still subject to Formula 1 receiving an exemption from the impending 14-day quarantine period that will be applied to international arrivals in the UK from June 8.
Sport was not included on a list of exemptions but it is understood that Prime Minister Boris Johnson personally intervened in order to facilitate Formula 1’s events to take place.
The Belgian and Italian Grands Prix are set to retain their original dates of August 30 and September 6 respectively.
All events in Europe are highly likely to be ‘Closed Events’, meaning no spectators will be permitted while each team will be restricted to a total of 80 personnel inside the paddock, from which only 60 are allowed to work on the car.
Out of the Europe-based venues only Monza has yet to confirm that spectators will not be permitted, should a grand prix take place.
Formula 2 and Formula 3 are poised to join all European events as championship officials attempt to fulfil as much of its calendar as possible.
It means there would be just two weekends between July 5 and September 6 without a Formula 1 race.
Formula 1 officials are still working on the composition of the remainder of the calendar in order to hold as many grands prix as possible.
It is understood that Azerbaijan, which was originally set for early June, could take Singapore’s slot of September 20, a week before the Russian Grand Prix, on September 27.
Attempts are being made to reschedule events in Vietnam and China, which were originally meant to take place in April.
Bahrain, on December 6, and Abu Dhabi, on December 13, are set to round out the campaign, meaning the season will finish two weeks later than initially anticipated.
European Races (Opening 8 races of 2020 season)
| # | Race | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austria 1 | July 5 |
| 2 | Austria 2 | July 12 |
| 3 | Hungary | July 19 |
| 4 | Britain 1 | August 2 |
| 5 | Britain 2 | August 9 |
| 6 | Spain | August 16 |
| 7 | Belgium | August 30 |
| 8 | Italy | September 6 |
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