The 2020 French Grand Prix has officially been cancelled owing to government restrictions, making it impossible to host the event.
Originally scheduled to take place from 25-28 June at Circuit Paul Ricard, the French GP organisers announced the events cancellation earlier this evening.
The 2020 motorsport season has been severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic, which has led to the opening ten rounds to be either cancelled or postponed. The Belgian Grand Prix is also in serious doubt.
This announcement comes shortly after the British Grand Prix organisers announced their event would be held behind closed doors – should the event proceed at all.
In a statement issued by the organisers, they stressed that the government enforcements, as well as the closure of the Schengen region ultimately led to the events cancellation:
“Due to the declarations of the President of the French Republic to ban major events until at least the middle of July and to maintain the closure of the Schengen area until further notice, and the recent decisions announce by the French Government to fight against the spread of the Covid-19 virus, the GIP Grand Prix de France – Le Castellet takes note of the impossibility to maintain the Formula 1 Grand Prix de France on June 28th.
“The health and safety of its spectators, its partners and all those involved in Formula 1 is a priority. The GIP Grand Prix de France – Le Castellet supports the decisions taken by the French Government.”
Eric Boullier, the director of the event, said the focus has now turned to the 2021 event.
“Given the evolution of the situation linked to the spread of the Covid-19 virus, the French Grand Prix takes note of the decisions announced by the French State making it impossible to maintain our event. The eyes of the GIP Grand Prix de France – Le Castellet are already turning towards the summer of 2021 in order to offer our spectators an even more original event in the heart of the Southern Region.”
Formula 1 CEO, Chase Carey, said F1 fully supports the decision made regarding the events cancellation.
“We have been in close contact with the French promoter during this evoloving situation and while it is disappointing for our fans and the F1 community that the French Grand Prix will not take place we fully support the decision taken by the French authorities in France and look forward to being back at Paul Ricard soon.”
The next event scheduled on the Formula 1 calendar is the Austrian Grand Prix. There has been talks of a double-header at the Red Bull Ring to start the season, being run behind closed doors.