Murray’s Ed start

BRAWN HAS FORMULA TO RESCUE SEASON

FORMULA ONE chiefs are scrambling to save the season after pulling the plug on races in Japan, Singapore and Azerbaijan.

Seven races have now been scrapped, including the showpiece Monaco event, while Canada, Mexico, the US and Brazil could follow suit.

The campaign is due to get under way in Austria on July 5 and will feature eight events in Europe, including back-to-back races at

Silverstone in August. And F1’s managing director Ross Brawn is hopeful they can add new and existing tracks for a reduced season of 15 to 18 races.

A second grand prix in Italy has been mooted for Mugello or Imola, while Germany’s Hockenheim and Portugal’s Portimao are other possibilities. F1 supremos also hope to end the championship in

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PUSH UPS: Stokes in lockdown and (right) with kids

Abu Dhabi in December after visiting Bahrain, which could host two races around different layouts.

“Things are moving fast but we still have time,” said Brawn

“We have lots of different options and we’re very confident we’re going to have a great second half of the season.

“There is a contingency to have an extended European season and I think Bahrain and Abu Dhabi will be the backstop. That gives us 10.

We’ll find at least five or six good races in the middle.”

Singapore and Azerbaijan were a logistical nightmare as the street circuits could not be constructed during Covid-19, while travel restrictions in Japan led to the cancellation of the race at Suzuka.

All eight races will take place behind closed doors but Brawn added: “We hope some races in the second half of the season will have spectators.”

ANDY MURRAY’S return to tennis will see him take on Kyle Edmund in the Battle of the Brits tournament.

The event, hosted by Jamie Murray, will take place behind closed doors at the National Tennis Centre from June 23-28.

There will be two round-robin groups before a knockout semi-final and final.

Andy Murray has not played since the Davis Cup in November due to a bruised bone but had hoped to be back on tour in April before the pandemic crisis.

The three-time Grand Slam champion will also play James Ward and Liam Broady in the Tim Henman Group.

British No.1 Dan Evans is in the Greg Rusedski Group with Cameron Norrie, Jack Draper and Jay Clarke.

Doubles specialist Jamie Murray is paired with Davis Cup teammate Neal Skupski.