After a long hiatus due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the 2020 Formula 1 season will finally be getting underway with F1 organisers confirming the schedule of the first eight races centred around Europe, starting on July 3.
The season kicks off with a double header at the Austrian Grand Prix on July 3 and 10, then moving to the Hungarian Grand Prix on the third week – July 17. Two back-to-back races will be held at Silverstone, United Kingdom on July 31 and August 7, after a two-week break in the schedule.
The travelling circus will then fly to Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix on August 16, followed by a one week break, and the Belgian Grand Prix on the 28th of August. Round eight of the 2020 season will be held at Monza, Italy, one week later on September 6.
All of the scheduled races will also be supported by Formula 2 and Formula 3.
In order to minimise the risk of spread of the COVID-19 virus, all eight scheduled races are currently set to be closed events with no live spectators, and will be operating under strict health and safety protocols.
F1 has placed restrictions on the number of personnel allowed to travel to each event, which will affect not only the teams, but also F1, FIA, and the suppliers. Isolated travel for these personnel will be mandated, using chartered flights as much as possible, along with private transfers between venues to minimise interaction with the untested public.
All personnel will be required to undergo COVID-19 tests and provide a negative result before being allowed to travel to each event. Medical staff will also be on site to conduct regular testing on arrival, including for all locally-based workers at the event.
Social distancing measures will also be strictly enforced at all of the events. On top of that, all personnel are also required to isolate within their respective team units, and not interact with others.
All activities and spaces, including the parc-ferme, podium, cool down rooms, and media obligation and interview locations, will be altered to ensure a safe distance can be maintained.
Formula 1 Chairman and CEO, Chase Carey said: “In the past weeks we have been working tirelessly with all our partners, the FIA and the teams to create a revised opening 2020 calendar allowing us to restart racing in the safest possible way.
“We are pleased to be able to set out our opening eight race calendar today and look forward to publishing our full calendar in the coming weeks,” adds Carey. Formula 1 expects to run 15 to 18 races before the season concludes in December this year.
“While we currently expect the season to commence without fans at our races we hope that over the coming months the situation will allow us to welcome them back once it is safe to do, but we know the return of Formula 1 will be a welcome boost to sports fans around the world.”
