Formula 1 boss Chase Carey has issued a statement outlining the sport’s intentions for the truncated 2020 season, with the championship set to get underway beginning with the Austrian Grand Prix on the July 3-5 weekend.
The first nine races of the world championship have been either postponed or cancelled, the French Grand Prix slated for June 28 the latest to join the list with an official announcement on Monday.
Plans are afoot that will see a championship calendar begin in Europe from July until the early September, before the paddock moves through Eurasia, Asia and the Americas with the season concluding in the Middle East with races in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi in late December.
But despite a curtailed season, Carey remains confident that a revised calendar will still include 15-18 races.
A full schedule beyond the Austrian Grand Prix is set to be announced shortly.
“Although this morning it was announced that the French Grand Prix, due to take place in late June, will not be going ahead, we are now increasingly confident with the progress of our plans to begin our season this summer,” read Carey’s letter.
“We’re targeting a start to racing in Europe through July, August and beginning of September, with the first race taking place in Austria on 3-5 July weekend. September, October and November, would see us race in Eurasia, Asia and the Americas, finishing the season in the Gulf in December with Bahrain before the traditional finale in Abu Dhabi, having completed between 15-18 races.
“We will publish our finalised calendar as soon as we possibly can.
“We expect the early races to be without fans but hope fans will be part of our events as we move further into the schedule. We still have to work out many issues like the procedures for the teams and our other partners to enter and operate in each country.
“The FIA, teams, promoters, and other key partners have been working with us throughout these steps and we want to thank them for all their support and efforts during this incredibly challenging time. We also want to recognise the fact that the teams have been supporting us at the same time that they have been focusing enormous and heroic efforts to build ventilators to help those infected by COVID-19.
“While we have been moving forward with our 2020 plans, we have also been working hard with the FIA and the teams to strengthen the long term future of Formula 1 through an array of new technical, sporting, and financial regulations that will improve the competition and action on the track and make it a healthier business for all involved, particularly as we engage the issues created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“All of our plans are obviously subject to change as we still have many issues to address and all of us are subject to the unknowns of the virus. We all want the world to return to the one we know and cherish, yet we recognise it must be done in the right and safest way. We look forward to doing our part by enabling our fans to once again safely share the excitement of Formula 1 with family, friends, and the broader community.”
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