Zandvoort is being lined up to replace Barcelona as the first non-flyaway race of the 2020 Formula 1 season, with the Spanish Grand Prix falling off the calendar, Autosport understands. A senior source has confirmed that a contract has now agreed between F1 and the Zandvoort promoter – but it has not yet been signed, as final details are still being sorted.
If, as expected, Barcelona drops off the 2020 calendar, it would allow Liberty to put Zandvoort into the early May slot ahead of Monaco. Barcelona is one of five circuits with expiring contracts at the end of 2019, along with Silverstone, Hockenheim, Monza and Mexico City.
All face financial challenges, but the Spanish event is widely regarded as the most vulnerable after losing government support.
At the same time, The BBC has reported that the Italian Grand Prix is set to remain on the Formula 1 calendar until at least 2024. It is thought that the contract has been agreed but is yet to be signed. An F1 statement said it had reached an “agreement in principle for a new five-year deal”and it hoped to reach an agreement “as soon as possible”.
Race organisers Italian Automobile Club (ACI) said it had agreed the “economic aspects of the contract” as quoted by BBC Sport.
Formula 1 fans will be pleased with this news as it sees the longest serving Formula 1 circuit stay in the sport for 5 more years.
The British, Spanish, German and Mexican Grands Prix’s are all yet to confirm their futures in the sport but it is encouraging that a track has had a positive agreement with the current F1 owners.
The future Formula 1 calendar could look a little different to what it does now but having the history of the Italian Grand Prix involved can only be a positive.
However, the future of another historic race track is still unclear, as Silverstone race track have denied reports a new three-year deal to host the British Grand Prix has been agreed. Silverstone has hosted Formula One races since 1987, and the historic track has been at the forefront of the calendar for many years as a “showpiece” race in the eyes of many.
However, 2019 could be the final year in which the British Grand Prix is hosted by Silverstone as the current contract runs out this year.
The Silverstone owners, the BRDC and F1 owners Liberty Media have engaged in lengthy talks though, to keep the prestigious race on the calendar for the next three years and it was reported earlier on Tuesday by Motorsport Week that a deal had been struck.
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