Austria gives go-ahead to crowd-free F1 races

ZURICH: Formula One can start its season in Austria with two races behind closed doors on July 5 and 12, the country’s health ministry said on Saturday. The delayed championship, which was due to get going in Australia in March, has had to cancel or postpone a string of races—including the Monaco highlight—due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Austrian grand prix circuit, the scenic Red Bull Ring owned by the energy drink brand, is near the village of Spielberg about 200 km southwest of the capital Vienna. Formula One is expected to publish a revamped calendar early next week with a race in neighbouring Hungary, also without spectators, following on from Austria. Two races will then follow at Silverstone in Britain, with Hockenheim in Germany an alternative if quarantine conditions are an obstacle, with further rounds in Spain, Belgium and Italy. The sport has said it hopes to do between 15-18 races, a reduction from the originally scheduled record 22.