F1 calls off 3 big meetings
FORMULA 1 gave up the battle against corona virus last night and cancelled the Japanese, Singapore and Azerbaijan Grands Prix, announcing that was not possible to hold the races in the uncertain global situation.
The historic event at Suzuka is off as a result of Japan’s ban on many international travellers. Races in Singapore and Baku cannot be held because the street circuits cannot be built in the current climate.
The cancellations mean F1 has lost a further three key grands prix to the Covid-19 crisis that has already claimed the seasonopening race in Australia and the blue-riband Monaco event.
Japan and Singapore are two of the most prestigious and popular races on the calendar. Suzuka resonates with drivers and fans alike as perhaps the most challenging of all tracks, while Singapore’s night event is not only a physical and mental test of endurance because of the hot, humid and bumpy conditions and length of the race, but is also popular with corporate visitors.
Azerbaijan pays one of the highest fees and the Baku street track, with its super-long pit straight, has become known for its incident-packed grands prix.
F1 is now looking at an increasingly Euro-centric calendar this year, but the sport is still confident of fulfilling its aim of holding a World Championship with 15-18 grands prix despite the postponement or cancellation of the first 10 events of the original 22-race schedule.
Eight races in Europe, running from early July to early September and starting with two events on consecutive weekends in Austria on 3-5 and 10-12 July, have been announced.
BBC Sport said it is now almost certain that two grands prix at Germany’s Hockenheim track will be added later in September. Italy’s Mugello circuit — owned by Ferrari — is prepared to host a race if necessary. In addition, F1 is still exploring the possibility of reviving the postponed Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal on a September date.
However they play out, F1 is likely to move on to Sochi for the Russian Grand Prix in early October after these events.
But there is considerable uncertainty over the races in the United States, Mexico and Brazil — three countries where the corona virus outbreaks are among the worst in the world.
Last week, F1 managing director Ross Brawn said: “If we judge the health and safety risk is too high, even if we can meet the obligations of the country, then we may not go there.”
Mexico has said it is planning to host its grand prix as scheduled on November 1, but whether the virus situation will improve sufficiently in Mexico City for F1 to feel that will be possible is unclear. Also the Brazilian race at Interlagos in Sao Paulo is considered unlikely to happen.
The end of the season is set for the Middle East, where both Bahrain and Abu Dhabi have indicated that they are willing to host two races at each of the tracks if necessary.