Cancellation in France, start in Austria: Formula 1 begins a “plan without guarantee” for 15 to 18 Grand Prix in the 2020 season. But Hockenheim could also play a role in the shortened Formula 1 championship.
Following the cancellation of the French Grand Prix at Le Castellet this Monday due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Formula 1 management has almost simultaneously announced a new calendar: “We are planning to have races in Europe in July, August and early September, with Austria starting from July 3 to 5,” said Chase Carey, the Managing Director of Formula 1 (FOM) in a statement: “In September, October and November we want to race in Eurasia, Asia and America before the season ends in December in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.
The American hopes to have between 15 and 18 races. So far ten races have been postponed or cancelled (Monaco/Le Castellet).
According to information from FAZ newspaper, the HockenheimRing may also play a role in the strategists’ thoughts. At least there has been a request from the FOM to the organizer of the Grand Prix of Germany. Among other things, they have asked about the necessary lead time.
The Baden Motodrom was not involved this year because other promoters can pay a much higher entry fee. Formula 1 lives essentially from these revenues and from the money from television marketing. If less than 15 Grand Prix take place, the TV stations would have the chance to reduce the contract services.
The hopes of Formula 1 rest on Austria. Vice-Chancellor Kogler had declared that the government would not stand in the way of a race without spectators as long as – by analogy – the conditions were met. In an interview with this newspaper, Helmut Marko, head of sports of the Red Bull racing team, spoke of a high chance of starting the season in Austria at the beginning of July. According to him, a second race will take place in Styria one week later. On that day, Formula 1 should have been racing in Silverstone according to the initial plan. The fact that it stops there on its European tour in summer on July 19 and also completes two tours within one week should be part of the new idea.
So far the promoter only announced that there will be no Grand Prix with an audience. Without paying fans the promoters can hardly refinance the costs. Probably that is why the FOM will waive the entry fee. “We expect that the early races will all be without spectators,” Carey confirmed: “But I hope that fans will become part of the events again sometime during the season. All our plans are without guarantee because we still have a lot of problems to tackle and we are all dependent on the imponderables of the virus”.
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