The 2020 season may not start until June.
On Thursday, the list of Formula 1 racing postponements/cancellations rose from four to seven. In addition to previously announced scheduling adjustments in the Grand Prix of Australia, Bahrain, China, and Vietnam, the Netherlands, Spain, and Monaco will follow suit. It’s all the result of the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19.
F1 statement: Due to the ongoing and fluid nature of the COVID-19 situation globally, Formula 1, the FIA, and the three promoters have taken these decisions in order to ensure the health and safety of the traveling staff, championship participants and fans, which remains our primary concern.
The big question is whether any of these races will be run in 2020. The races in the Netherlands and Spain might be rescheduled for a later time, but the Grand Prix of Monaco will not. Time is needed for heavy construction required to prepare for the May 24 event. It will be the first cancellation in the history of the race, which began in 1954.
With Thursday’s announcements, it likely means that the 2020 season will open June 7 in Azerbaijan. But even that deferment is speculative, depending on how the COVID-19 situation develops worldwide.
Formula 1 has made it clear that no races will be held until the disease slows down or is fully under control altogether. “Formula 1 and the FIA continue to work closely with affected promoters and local authorities to monitor the situation and take the appropriate amount of time to study the viability of potential alternative dates for each Grand Prix later in the year should the situation improve,” the FIA said.
Until then, Formula 1 has announced that they will shut down for a three-week break–a break that normally occurs in August–before resuming activities.
