The 2020 French Grand Prix has been officially called off. The June 28th event was previously the first race on the 2020 F1 calendar which had not been cancelled. The race at Paul Ricard has been in serious doubt since the French government extended its ban on public events until mid-July.
The race promoter confirmed in a statement on Monday morning the restrictions made it “impossible” for their event to take place.
“Following the declarations of the French president to ban major events until at least the middle of July, to keep the Schengen area closed until further notice and the recent decisions announced by the French government to fight against the spread of the Covid-19 virus, the GIP Grand Prix de France [at] Le Castellet takes note of the impossibility to maintain the Formula 1 Grand Prix de France on June 28, 2020,” the promoter announced.
Formula 1 had looked into holding a race behind closed doors at the track. However the race’s managing director Eric Boullier said they were now concentrating on plans for next season.
“Given the evolution of the situation linked to the spread of the Covid-19 virus, the French Grand Prix takes note of the decisions announced by the French State making it impossible to maintain our event,” he said.
“The eyes of the GIP Grand Prix de France [at] Le Castellet are already turning towards the summer of 2021 in order to offer our spectators an even more unprecedented event at the heart of the Region Sud.”
Formula 1 chairman and CEO Chase Carey said: “We have been in close contact with the French promoter during this evolving situation and while it is disappointing for our fans and the F1 community that the French Grand Prix will not take place we fully support the decision taken by the French authorities in France and look forward to being back at Paul Ricard soon.”
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