Formula One eyes new venues to salvage season

NEWDELHI: Formula One could see races at new venues in a bid to salvage the season stalled by the Covid-19 pandemic. Amid massive revenue losses due to postponed or cancelled races, the sport could return to circuits— mostly in Europe—not used in years, provided the lights go green in July.

F1 organisers have decided to begin the curtailed season in Spielberg, Austria, on July 5 behind closed doors with an aim of finishing the championship with 15-18 races. So far, 10 of what would have been a record 22-race championship have either been cancelled or postponed.

Among the venues being considered is Hockenheim in Germany where restrictions are easing with Bundesliga to resume in front of empty stands on May 16. The Hockenheimring hosted an F1 GP last year but was not part of the 2020 championship. Portimao in Portugal (built in 2008, it is an F1 testing track) and Imola (Michael Schumacher won the last F1 race held here in 2006) in Italy are also being considered. Austria is may host a second race on July 12 with Silverstone, the home of the British Grand Prix, also tipped for back-to-back events on July 19 and 26. The Malaysian GP in 2017 also has a possibility of returning to the calendar.

“We’re in discussion with all our promoters as well as some tracks that are not currently on our 2020 calendar to ensure we explore all options. We are in advanced stages of putting together a schedule of additional European races through early September, including races during the August break,” said F1 chief executive Chase Carey.

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