F1 Confirms Ambitious Revised 2020 Schedule to Get Racing Back on Track: Delayed season could wind up in December!: No fans in the stands!

Courtesy of Auto Week

Delayed Formula 1 season will begin with races in Austria on July 5 and July 12.

BY JOE SAWARD JUN 2, 2020

lewis hamilton of mercedes amg petronas motorsportLewis Hamilton MARCO CANONIERO GETTY IMAGES

As expected, Formula 1 has finally produced a calendar, albeit a partial one, revised to take into account the difficult circumstances of COVID-19, with the preliminary plan being for eight races on European soil, as previously reported by Autoweek.

The first eight races will be packed together, with seven in nine weeks, beginning with two events in Austria on July 5 and July 12. The events will be for three days only. There will then be a race in Budapest and then a break before the first of two races in Britain on Aug. 2, with the second being a week later. These will be followed by a race in Spain on Aug. 16 and then a race at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium on Aug. 30, followed a week later by the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

The races in the eight-race European leg, at least, are expected to be contested without fans in the grandstands.

Formula 1 is set to return to Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium on Aug. 30

“It is currently expected that the opening races will be closed events, but it is hoped fans will be able to join events again when it is safe to do so,” F1 said in a statement. “The opening calendar will include holding two consecutive events at the same circuit one week apart as well as a number of back-to-back events. The health and safety of all involved will continue to be priority No. 1, with the FIA and Formula 1 having a robust and detailed plan to ensure our races maintain the highest level of safety with strict procedures in place.”

The F1 races will be accompanied by Formula 2 and Formula 3 races.

Races outside of Europe, including an expected race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 25, were not confirmed with today’s announcement.

“Due to the ongoing fluidity of the COVID-19 situation internationally, the details of the wider calendar will be finalized in the coming weeks,” F1 said. “With an expectation of having a total of 15-18 races before the completion of the season in December.”