Formula 1 has confirmed that three European venues not originally on the calendar – Nurburgring, Portimao and Imola – will hold 2020 grands prix as part of a rearranged schedule, with all American rounds cancelled.
The events have dates of October 11, October 25 and November 1 respectively, with Imola’s return set to take place across two days, rather than the usual three-day format.
It brings the number of confirmed races up to 13, though between 15 and 18 are still planned, with Bahrain and Abu Dhabi still slated to host the final rounds.
Events in Asia in November – most prominently Vietnam – remain possible but hopes have now ended for any grands prix to be held in the Americas in 2020.
Nurburgring, Imola back, Portimao joins
The Nurburgring only recently emerged as an option for Formula 1 after lengthy talks with Hockenheim collapsed.
It held grands prix annually during the peak of Michael Schumacher’s popularity in the country but dropped off the calendar after 2013, having already switched to a biennial event.
The event will be titled the Eifel Grand Prix, rather than the German Grand Prix, in spite of there being no other round in the country this year, on account of naming rights.
Holding a race at the venue so late is nonetheless a risk due to the possibility of wintry weather in the rural region – even as early as October.
The inclusion of Portimao and Imola had been long-awaited ever since the coronavirus pandemic worsened and prompted an overhaul of the original schedule.
Portimao hosted Formula 1 testing a decade ago but has never held a Formula 1 grand prix, with Portugal’s last race coming in 1996, when it took place at Estoril.
It will be the second new venue on the 2020 calendar, following on from Mugello’s debut on September 13.
Imola has hosted 27 Formula 1 rounds but last featured on the calendar in 2006 and it will take the title of Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, after the province in which the circuit is located, rather than the San Marino tag with which it became associated.
It will be the third Italian venue to feature on the 2020 roster – following on from Monza and Mugello – and its grand prix will be the 100th championship event to take place in the country.
The event is set to be run across only two days in order for Formula 1 to evaluate an altered timetable as it assesses a revised weekend schedule for 2021 grands prix.
The exact format of the weekend has yet to be determined.
Go West? Not this year
The championship has now abandoned efforts to race in America this year owing to the ongoing uncertainty regarding coronavirus, its restrictions, and associated finances and logistics.
The USA, Mexico and Brazil were always highly likely to drop from the schedule due to the worsening coronavirus situation in the respective countries.
Their events were scheduled for late October through mid-November respectively, allowing Formula 1 greater time to assess the situation, but a decision has now been made to cancel the rounds.
Canada’s hopes rested on managing to rearrange its June event in early October, prior to the onset of Quebec’s harsh winter, but this has proved unfeasible, and its event has been cancelled.
Restrictions on events and travel means it impossible to organise an event in Canada, in spite of its lower infection rate compared to its counterparts further south in the continent.
Formula 1 needs to hit 15 races to fulfil lucrative broadcast contracts and now it has options elsewhere that means it does not have to head to the Americas.
It will be the first time in championship history that an event has not been held anywhere in the Americas.
It also remains to be seen whether Formula 1 will ever return to Brazil’s Interlagos Circuit as its contract – which was unlikely to be renewed – expires after 2020.
Seven grands prix – Australia, the Netherlands, Monaco, Azerbaijan, France, Singapore and Japan – had already been cancelled.
Finale not yet confirmed
Formula 1 has long pencilled in the rescheduled Bahrain Grand Prix for late 2020 and traditional curtain-closer in Abu Dhabi for mid-December.
The events are usually separated from each other in the calendar, with the lucrative Abu Dhabi round having tabs on being the final event, but they will be paired for the first time this year.
No dates have yet been confirmed as Formula 1 is still working on holding two events in Asia, which has a knock-on effect on the Middle East events.
It had been hoped to pair the rescheduled inaugural Vietnam race with the postponed Chinese round across November 15/22, but China’s decision to cancel all international sporting events for the rest of 2020 has wrecked this plan.
As a result discussions are still ongoing, with Malaysia’s Sepang Circuit a potential candidate to replace China, while two events in Bahrain remain a possibility, prior to the Abu Dhabi finale.
