F1 2020 plans being put in place for proposed July season start

Formula 1’s plans to potentially start the 2020 season in Europe in July are gathering pace, with behind-closed-doors double headers understood to be pencilled in for Austria and Silverstone.

Formula 1’s plans to potentially start the 2020 season in Europe in July are gathering pace, with behind-closed-doors double-headers understood to be pencilled in for Austria and Silverstone.

As discussions continue in the background, Silverstone formally confirmed on Monday that should the British GP take place, fans will not be in attendance owing to the government’s advice on mass gatherings amid the coronavirus crisis.

The French GP, meanwhile, has been called off from its scheduled June 28 slot – the 10th event to be postponed or cancelled.

And the Sky F1 team will be discussing all the latest behind-the-scenes news around the sport in a special new live show which airs on Mondays at 2pm – The F1 Show, live on Sky Sports News, Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event.

Joining Simon Lazenby on this Monday’s first edition will be Martin Brundle and Karun Chandhok, plus SSN’s F1 reporter Craig Slater. Guests from around F1 include Racing Point boss Otmar Szafnauer and, fresh from his impressive IndyCar iRacing victory, McLaren’s Lando Norris.

So what’s the latest in F1?

France’s announcement means that nearly half of the originally-scheduled 22-race calendar – 10 events – will now not be taking place on either their scheduled 2020 dates, or not until 2021 entirely.

But F1 chairman Chase Carey said last month that he was hopeful a season of 15-18 races could still be held this year, while motorsports managing director Ross Brawn told Sky Sports F1 that he believed a 19-race season could still be held if the campaign got underway in early July.

F1’s officials have been working with teams, the FIA and promoters on different scenarios to start the season in a safe manner, and on controlled grounds, once various permissions have been given from promoters and respective governments.

It is understood that current plans to start the campaign centre on holding a behind-closed-doors double-header across consecutive weekends at Austria’s Red Bull Ring. The season would then move on to Silverstone for two races without fans on consecutive weekends.

Both venues have publicly stated their willingness to hold more than one event.

As indicated by Brawn to Sky F1, the sport’s desire is to continue a season once it is up and running, rather than starting too early and then having to stop.

The intention is believed therefore for the season to then continue on a territory-by-territory basis, with races in Europe followed by events in Asia, The Americas and finally the Middle East.

Further developments are expected this week.

For more, make sure you tune in to The F1 Show on Monday at 2pm on three Sky Sports channels – F1, News and Main Event – and the Sky F1 YouTube page.

(c) Sky Sports 2020: F1 2020 plans being put in place for proposed July season start