Formula 1 has confirmed that the 2020 Azerbaijan, Singapore and Japanese Grand Prix races have been cancelled as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. This comes after the opening eight races of a revised calendar for the 2020 season was announced, starting with the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in the first weekend of July.
“As a result of the ongoing challenges presented by Covid-19, we and our promoters in Azerbaijan, Singapore and Japan have taken the decision to cancel their races for the 2020 season,” read an official statement.
“These decisions have been taken due to the different challenges our promoters face in those countries. In Singapore and Azerbaijan, the long lead times required to construct street circuits made hosting the events during a period of uncertainty impossible and in Japan, ongoing travel restrictions also led to the decision not to proceed with the race,” it continued.
With the cancellations, the motorsport is looking to increase the number of races within Europe, with possible back-to-back events or new venues as part of an expanded and revised race calendar.
“There is a contingency to have an extended European season with another one or two races if needed. I think Bahrain and Abu Dhabi will be the backstop of the season from what we can see at the moment. That gives us 10. We’ll find at least five or six good races in the middle,” said Formula 1 managing director of motorsports and technical director Ross Brawn.
“There are a number of good European tracks where we could add another one or two races on to make sure we have a comprehensive season. We’re not going to declare it yet, as it’s still a work in progress,” he added. Other European tracks are currently being evaluated, with the likes of Ferrari-owned Mugello, Imola, Portimao, and Hockenheim all understood to be under consideration.
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Closed door races maybe, come to brunai..
So F1 is going back to its conti roots and exclusively for their own white people.
How is everything related to race? All the teams, drivers, factories are based in EU, of course they only race in EU because of this pandemic. Can be due to cost or traveling risk. They are not racing in US. Is US not white?
Sepang should offer to host the race. Definitely the fees for hosting this year will be minimal, and this will help boost Malaysia’s profile to the world. During this pandemic time, there will be more eyes watching TV as people are seeking entertainment. The track is close to the airport, so there can be minimal contact with locals to prevent spread of imported disease.Hotels around Sepang should be able to house the team and personnel.
Read: “more European events considered”
But the cost of hosting it, without any spectator/ticket going to be massive.
Ini semua salah virus COVID
Maybe it is their way to reduce cost due to the event run in closed doors, within europe perhaps less air travel, can do intercontinental travel.
UK, Spain, Italy. Good luck then.