MOTORSPORT: Formula 1 to restart in July

Formula 1 has identified the Austrian Grand Prix on July 3-5 as the starting date for a 2020 world championship that could include as many as 18 races and run into December.

The globe’s premier motor racing series is also hoping fans might be able to attend some races live later in the year.

Like all motorsports, F1 has been in a holding pattern since March when the coronavirus pandemic took hold.

The season had been due to get underway in Melbourne on March 13-15, but that event was cancelled just a few hours before the first practice session was due to start.

As we’ve reported, the prospect of the Australian F1 Grand Prix being on the revised 2020 calendar is practically non-existent.

F1 CEO Chase Carey provided the new plan in the wake of the cancellation of the June 26-28 French Grand Prix, which was the 10th round of the original 2020 calendar.

“We are now increasingly confident with the progress of our plans to begin our season this summer,” said Carey.

“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 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.”

Carey offered the sensible rider that all plans are subject to change and dependant on the progress of the fight against the pandemic, something F1 teams and other motorsport and automotive businesses have contributed their design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities to.

“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,” Carey said.

In Australia, Supercars has indicated it could be mid-May before details of its resumption plans are revealed.