The highly anticipated 2020 Formula 1 season, which was meant to ignite the racing world with thrilling competition, faced unprecedented disruption right from its onset. A recent announcement provided a glimpse into the revised 2020 F1 calendar, yet offered more questions than definitive answers. While the broad framework for the season’s beginning and end was outlined, the intricate details of what lies in between remain shrouded in uncertainty. This preliminary schedule, however, offers crucial indications of Formula 1’s resilience and determination to deliver a championship under the most challenging circumstances imaginable.
The global pandemic, which brought industries worldwide to a grinding halt, particularly impacted live events and international sports. For Formula 1, a sport synonymous with global travel, packed grandstands, and intricate logistics, the challenge was immense. As nations implemented travel restrictions and public gathering bans, the initial F1 calendar, a meticulously planned global tour, quickly became untenable. The motorsport community watched with bated breath as race after race faced an uncertain future, leaving fans, teams, and organizers grappling with the potential loss of an entire season.
Currently, the fate of 12 races hangs in the balance, awaiting confirmation of their amended plans. The Australian, Monaco, and French Grands Prix have already been officially cancelled, marking a somber start to what was supposed to be a landmark year. Monaco’s cancellation, in particular, resonated deeply, as the iconic street race has been an almost constant fixture on the calendar since 1950. Another seven races have been ‘notionally postponed,’ a term that reflects the fluid nature of the situation; without confirmed new dates, these postponements carry the inherent risk of eventually becoming outright cancellations. The distinction between postponement and cancellation is critical, as it directly impacts contractual obligations, revenue streams, and the morale of the F1 ecosystem.
Amidst this backdrop of uncertainty, Formula 1 Chairman and CEO Chase Carey delivered a significant piece of news: the Bahrain Grand Prix, originally slated as the second round in March, is now tentatively scheduled for an unspecified date in December. This announcement provided a much-needed beacon of hope, solidifying at least one of the postponed events. The reasons for Bahrain’s early rescheduling are manifold and strategic. Geographically, it is the closest circuit to the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, making a logistical double-header or back-to-back event highly feasible. Carey’s comments suggest that the Abu Dhabi race itself will likely be pushed back by at least two weeks from its original November 29th slot to accommodate the revised schedule.
Furthermore, the Bahrain Grand Prix is a financially lucrative event for Formula 1, largely due to its government funding. The strong financial incentive to reschedule this race underscores F1’s commitment to mitigating revenue losses. Bahrain also presents a practical advantage in the event that spectator attendance remains unfeasible. Historically, it has been one of the less heavily attended races on the calendar, meaning a ‘ghost race’ scenario – holding the event behind closed doors without fans – would have a comparatively smaller impact on ticket revenue compared to other venues. While some dedicated fans, like the two we spoke to last month, expressed genuine disappointment at missing the race, the circuit’s lower reliance on gate receipts makes it a prime candidate for a spectator-free event, prioritizing the championship’s continuity.
The proposed season restart is set to feature these ‘ghost races,’ with the Austrian and British rounds scheduled to open the championship without any spectators. This radical departure from tradition highlights the extraordinary measures Formula 1 is willing to take to get the season underway. For circuits like Silverstone, a historic venue with a passionate fanbase, the prospect of racing without a crowd is bittersweet. To alleviate the disappointment for fans who had purchased tickets for the 2020 British Grand Prix, Silverstone is devising an attractive incentive package to encourage ticket transfers to the 2021 race. A spokesperson confirmed to RaceFans that these incentives are still being finalized but will likely include exclusive experiences such as team garage tours, signed merchandise, and pit lane access. This initiative demonstrates a thoughtful approach to fan loyalty, acknowledging the unique circumstances while offering future rewards.
Building on the ‘ghost race’ concept, discussions have also emerged about Austria and Britain potentially hosting additional races, possibly mid-week, shortly after their primary weekend events. This ‘double-header’ approach at a single venue offers a practical solution to maximize racing action while minimizing travel and logistical complexities. The idea of using different track configurations to add variety to these multiple races has been floated. However, radical changes such as running circuits in reverse, while an intriguing prospect for some drivers like Charles Leclerc, face significant safety and logistical hurdles that would require substantial investment and regulatory approval, making it largely unrealistic for a rapidly organized schedule. Shorter track variations, such as those available at Silverstone or the Red Bull Ring, might be more feasible. However, concerns remain that these shorter layouts might be deemed too brief for Formula 1’s requirements, particularly for the Red Bull Ring, which already features some of the shortest lap times on the calendar.
Therefore, the initial phase of the 2020 F1 season is expected to unfold in Austria and Britain, culminating in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. The vast middle segment of the calendar, however, remains largely undefined. Chase Carey’s statement that “September, October and November would see us race in Eurasia, Asia and the Americas” is intentionally broad, encompassing nearly all the remaining circuits that could potentially host a Grand Prix. This flexibility highlights the fluid planning process and the need to adapt to evolving regional circumstances.
While the overall framework is in place, the reinstatement of certain venues appears increasingly improbable. Rescheduling flyaway races across continents presents immense logistical challenges. The Canadian Grand Prix, for instance, faces a difficult path back onto the calendar. Although slotting it alongside the two other North American races in late October might seem logical from a geographical perspective, the significantly colder temperatures in Montreal during that period could render racing impractical. This climate-related obstacle adds another layer of complexity to an already intricate puzzle.
F1’s two highly anticipated new races for 2020 also face considerable headwinds. Vietnam, slated to host its inaugural Formula 1 race this year in Hanoi, presents a major logistical headache as a street circuit. The sheer complexity of setting up and dismantling a street track, combined with the current global travel restrictions, makes its reinstatement a formidable challenge. Similarly, Zandvoort’s much-awaited return to the F1 calendar will likely have to wait another year. The Dutch government’s extension of its ban on public events until early September directly impacts the viability of the Dutch Grand Prix. In a similar vein, Spa-Francorchamps halted ticket sales for the Belgian Grand Prix, originally scheduled for August 30th, after public events in Belgium were called off until the end of that month. These local government decisions underscore the external factors that Formula 1 cannot control, further complicating its scheduling efforts.
These developments undoubtedly leave other European race promoters on edge, anxiously hoping their events will not suffer the same fate. For countries like Britain and Italy, with their deep historical ties and significant motorsport industries, there is a fervent hope that the economic and cultural importance of their Grands Prix might help secure their place on a revised calendar. The political and economic leverage of these motorsport hubs could play a crucial role in negotiating continued presence.
Street races, by their very nature, pose unique challenges. Singapore, for example, is unlikely to countenance its grand prix being moved from its scheduled date due to the extensive planning and disruption involved in preparing the city circuit. Furthermore, any city-based event, including the rounds in Mexico and Brazil, will have legitimate concerns about importing large numbers of people (teams, staff, media) and the potential health risks. However, these races benefit from having time on their side, being over six months away, which provides a longer window for global conditions to improve and for new health protocols to be established. Changes to the later part of the calendar could potentially open up opportunities for other ‘flyaway’ races to be rescheduled. Baku, another street race, presents its own logistical difficulties, yet its status as a high-profile ‘propaganda race’ means F1 will be particularly keen to retain it, given its financial and strategic importance.
A slot may also be found for the Chinese Grand Prix, which F1 has already indicated could be streamlined. The proposal to shorten this race weekend from three days to two would allow it to run back-to-back with another round, maximizing efficiency and minimizing travel time. This principle of condensed race weekends could be applied elsewhere to help Chase Carey achieve his goal of holding a respectable 15 to 18 races this year. This target is not arbitrary; the lower end of this range is widely considered the minimum number of races F1 can deliver without incurring substantial financial penalties from its highly lucrative deals with global television broadcasters. Maintaining these broadcast agreements is paramount for Formula 1’s financial stability, which explains the extraordinary lengths the sport is willing to go to, including reimbursing circuits for lost gate receipts to facilitate closed-door races. This financial imperative also likely explains why Bahrain and Abu Dhabi were among the first venues to be tentatively penciled in as season-closers; should further mid-season cancellations occur, these strategically important circuits could be pressed to host additional races, much like Austria and Britain are being prepared to do.
Despite these ambitious plans, the situation remains highly tentative and subject to constant change. The French Grand Prix’s cancellation just yesterday serves as a stark reminder of the fragile nature of the current landscape. It is highly probable that more races will regrettably have to abandon their hopes of hosting an event this year, regardless of whether spectators are present. As Carey himself acknowledged yesterday, “All of our plans are obviously subject to change as we still have many issues to address and all of us are subject to the unknowns of the virus. 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.” The first race of the season is still over two months away, and Formula 1 urgently requires a rapid improvement in the global health situation to have any realistic hope of meeting its revised start date and delivering a compelling 2020 championship.
F1’s Remaining Races and Potential Calendar Gaps
The following table outlines the races originally scheduled for the 2020 calendar and the available weekends that Formula 1 might utilize to reconstruct its season. This demonstrates the immense challenge of fitting a significant number of races into a compressed timeframe while navigating international restrictions.
| Weekend | Original races |
|---|---|
| 4-5 July | Austria |
| 11-12 July | |
| 18-19 July | Great Britain |
| 25-26 July | |
| 1-2 August | Hungary |
| 8-9 August | |
| 15-16 August | |
| 22-23 August | |
| 29-30 August | Belgium |
| 5-6 September | Italy |
| 12-13 September | |
| 19-20 September | Singapore |
| 26-27 September | Russia |
| 3-4 October | |
| 10-11 October | Japan |
| 17-18 October | |
| 24-25 October | USA |
| 31 Oct – 1 Nov | Mexico |
| 7-8 November | |
| 14-15 November | Brazil |
| 21-22 November | |
| 28-29 November | Abu Dhabi |
| 5-6 December | |
| 12-13 December | |
| 19-20 December | |
| 26-27 December |
Exploring the 2020 F1 Season Landscape
For more insights and updates on the dynamic 2020 Formula 1 season, delve into our comprehensive coverage:
- Grosjean to make F1 test return tomorrow for first time since Bahrain horror crash
- Pictures: Wrecked chassis from Grosjean’s Bahrain fireball crash to go on display
- Bottas vs Rosberg: Hamilton’s Mercedes team mates compared after 78 races each
- F1 revenues fell by $877 million in Covid-struck 2020 season
- Hamilton and Mercedes finally announce new deal for 2021 season
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