Formula 1 has released a statement revealing a new plan to re-start the 2020 season which was previously pushed back due to the worldwide Covid-19 outbreak.
The group announced on their Twitter yesterday that as long as it is deemed safe enough, the new schedule will see race season kick off in July and come to a close with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which will now be held in December 2020.
We've set a target to begin the 2020 season on the weekend of July 3-5 at the Austrian Grand Prix
Here's more on our latest proposed plan for the season, once it's safe to start up again#F1 pic.twitter.com/17c1DuzsJf
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 27, 2020
The season will now start in Austria between July 3 and July 5. This means the entire schedule will now consist of between 15 and 18 races instead of the originally planned 22.
Formula 1 Chairman and CEO, Chase Carey said: “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 July 3 to 5 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”.
The organizers have been keen to outline their conscientious approach to rolling out the season with the health and safety of its team and the public in mind, too.
Carey commented: “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 health and safety of all involved will continue to be priority one and we will only go forward if we are confident we have reliable procedures to address both risks and possible issues.”
If all goes according to plan with the season finishing up in the Gulf in December, including racing in Bahrain before closing in Abu Dhabi, it will be a win for the region as the event is traditionally one of the biggest on the annual calendar. These new dates are, however “subject to change” and a detailed schedule is yet to be announced as the global situation with coronavirus continues to unfold.
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