Ferrari’s home venue for 1000th Grand Prix
THE Ferrari-owned Mugello circuit will debut on the Formula One calendar in September to host the Italian team’s 1000th championship Grand Prix, with Russia’s race in Sochi also confirmed yesterday.
The September 13 race, to be called the Grand Prix of Tuscany Ferrari 1 000, will follow on from the September 6 Italian Grand Prix at Monza as the ninth round of a season that has been heavily revised due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Russia will be the 10th race on September 27.
Formula One said in a statement it still expected to stage between 15-18 rounds in a championship that started at Austria’s Red Bull Ring last weekend, with more announcements in coming weeks.
“We are increasingly confident in our plans to race throughout the remainder of 2020,” said Formula One chairman Chase Carey.
“The Russian Grand Prix is a major moment in our season and we are looking forward to being back in Sochi in September.
“To be able to celebrate an extraordinary anniversary like the 1 000th Grand Prix for Scuderia Ferrari at our own home at Mugello is an incredible opportunity,” said Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto.
“Mugello is not just one of the most spectacular and challenging tracks for drivers and cars.
“It is also a structure that has made sustainability one of its priorities.”
Imola, which hosted the San Marino Grand Prix up to 2006, could yet feature on the 2020 calendar if other races are cancelled.
Formula One is also lining up Portugal’s Algarve circuit in Portimao, with Vietnam still a possibility.
While China has said it will not hold any international sporting events this year, aside from trials for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Formula One could yet secure an exemption.
Races in the Americas — Texas, Mexico and Brazil — look doubtful due to the spread of the new coronavirus but Bahrain, with a possible two races, and Abu Dhabi are set to complete the season in November.
Meanwhile, Mexican Sergio Perez put Racing Point’s ‘Pink Mercedes’ on top of the timesheets in first practice for the Styrian Grand Prix yesterday.
The car has earned its nickname from being a close copy of the 2019 Mercedes that took Lewis Hamilton to a sixth Formula One championship.
Perez lapped the Red Bull Ring, which also hosted last weekend’s season-opening Austrian Grand Prix, with a best time of one minute 04.867 seconds on soft tyres.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was second fastest, 0.096 slower, with the Mercedes pairing of last weekend’s race winner Valtteri Bottas and Hamilton third and fourth respectively but without using the quickest tyres.
Canadian Lance Stroll was fifth fastest in the other Racing Point.
Ferrari were off the pace as they evaluated new parts, with Sebastian Vettel 10th and Charles Leclerc 12th.
Canadian rookie Nicholas Latifi stopped his Williams with an engine problem halfway through the session.
Teammate George Russell sat out the practice, with the team’s reserve driver Jack Aitken given some track time instead and lapping 17th fastest.
Poland’s Robert Kubica, reserve at Alfa Romeo, was 18th | Reuters