The 2020 Formula 1 World Championship will start no earlier than June after the FIA and Formula One Management announced that the Dutch, Spanish and Monaco Grands Prix will not go ahead as originally scheduled due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.
The Dutch and Spanish rounds can potentially be rescheduled into an altered calendar, along with the already-postponed Bahrain, Vietnamese and Chinese Grands Prix.
Like the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, the iconic Monaco Grand Prix, however, is officially cancelled. This marks the first time since 1954 that the event will not take place.
“Due to the ongoing and fluid nature of the COVID-19 situation globally, the FIA, Formula 1 and the three promoters have taken these decisions in order to ensure the health and safety of the travelling staff, championship participants and fans, which remains our primary concern,” a statement from the FIA explained.
“The FIA and Formula 1 continue to work closely with affected promoters and local authorities to monitor the situation and take the appropriate amount of time to study the viability of potential alternative dates for each Grand Prix later in the year should the situation improve.
“The FIA and Formula 1 expect to begin the 2020 Championship season as soon as it is safe to do so after May and will continue to regularly monitor the ongoing COVID-19 situation.”
The FIA has brought forward the traditional summer shutdown in August to April in the hope of using that gap to slot in some races should the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic ease enough to allow for a return to racing.
The updated calendar now sees the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in June as the new season-opener, with the Canadian Grand Prix following a week later.
2020 FIA Formula 1 World Championship Season Calendar | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date | Event | Location | |
15 MAR | ![]() |
Australian Grand Prix – CANCELLED | Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne |
22 MAR | ![]() |
Bahrain Grand Prix – POSTPONED | Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir |
05 APR | ![]() |
Vietnamese Grand Prix – POSTPONED | Hanoi Street Circuit, Hanoi |
19 APR | ![]() |
Chinese Grand Prix – POSTPONED | Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai |
03 MAY | ![]() |
Dutch Grand Prix – POSTPONED | Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort |
10 MAY | ![]() |
Spanish Grand Prix – POSTPONED | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmeló |
24 MAY | ![]() |
Monaco Grand Prix – CANCELLED | Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo |
07 JUN | ![]() |
Azerbaijan Grand Prix | Baku City Circuit, Baku |
14 JUN | ![]() |
Canadian Grand Prix | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montréal |
28 JUN | ![]() |
French Grand Prix | Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet |
05 JUL | ![]() |
Austrian Grand Prix | Red Bull Ring, Spielberg |
19 JUL | ![]() |
British Grand Prix | Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone |
02 AUG | ![]() |
Hungarian Grand Prix | Hungaroring, Mogyoród |
30 AUG | ![]() |
Belgian Grand Prix | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot |
06 SEP | ![]() |
Italian Grand Prix | Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza |
20 SEP | ![]() |
Singapore Grand Prix | Marina Bay Sreet Circuit, Singapore |
27 SEP | ![]() |
Russian Grand Prix | Sochi Autodrom, Sochi |
11 OCT | ![]() |
Japanese Grand Prix | Suzuka International Racing Couse, Suzuka |
25 OCT | ![]() |
United States Grand Prix | Circuit of the Americas, Austin |
01 NOV | ![]() |
Mexico City Grand Prix | Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City |
15 NOV | ![]() |
Brazilian Grand Prix | Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo |
29 NOV | ![]() |
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi |
Image via Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
Richard Bailey
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