F1 chief confident up to 18 GPs will go ahead

Formula One is hoping to have a finalised 2020 calendar in place by the end of the month after announcing plans to return to action in July, but chief executive Chase Carey said he would not set any hard deadlines with safety still the priority.

F1 on Tuesday published an eight-race European calendar which will see the delayed season get under way with a doubleheader in Austria on July 5 and 12 before a race in Hungary, two at Silverstone in August and further events in Spain, Belgium and Italy – all to be staged behind closed doors.

But owners Liberty are hoping to stage between 15 and 18 grands prix this year and Carey said he

“We feel good about it – we’re in uncharted waters”

remained confident in that goal.

“We feel good about it,” he said. “We’re in uncharted waters. We certainly continue to have a lack of visibility beyond a fairly short timeframe.

“We’re not going to give a deadline right now. With the fluidity of the situation, a deadline would create pressures which may not be right and realistic for the situation so we’re thinking of goals.

“Our goal would be before the end of June to, if not complete the rest of the calendar, to at least have a handle on it.”

The new calendar was accompanied by rigorous safety guidelines which Carey said will be akin to “living in a bubble” for the limited number of personnel at each race.

The guidelines cover all aspects of racing, travel and accommodation, going into detail on everything from meal times to toilet facilities and downtime between events.