The running of the French Grand Prix has been thrown into doubt as the nation has extended its lockdown period.
As of yesterday, France has recorded over 98,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 14,967 deaths.
A strict nationwide lockdown has been in place since March 17 and was set to expire on April 15. But overnight French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation, announcing the lockdown restrictions have been extended until at least May 11, while a ban on mass public gatherings is set to continue until July.
The announcement places the French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard slated for June 28 in jeopardy.
The race was hoped to begin the 2020 season after the postponement of the Canadian Grand Prix earlier this month.
Last week Formula 1 motorsport boss Ross Brawn said that a calendar of as many as 19 races is still possible, with the ideas of running triple-header race weekends and an extension into 2021 all mooted.
Brawn also indicated that the season could start as late as October and still reach the minimum number of eight Grands Prix to classify a world championship.
France’s other major sporting event, the Tour de France, remains scheduled to start on the same weekend as the French Grand Prix, but is now also set to be either postponed or cancelled indefinitely.
Currently, there has been no word on the running of the Austrian Grand Prix which is due to be held a week after the French race.