F1 CONFIRMS START OF 2020 SEASON

Formula 1 has today announced the opening eight races of the 2020 calendar following the postponement of the 2020 FIA Formula 1 World Championship due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The calendar has been approved by the FIA.

The return of Grand Prix racing has of course been delayed by the coronavirus, and with the threat of the illness still a key consideration, Formula 1 has worked with both authorities and promoters to ensure that races are as safe as possible for everyone involved.

Here are the five main steps being taken:

1. REGULAR TESTING

Using private testing, any personnel attending a race will be tested for Covid-19 before travelling, and each must produce a negative result before they will be allowed to go to the event. There will be regular testing, conducted by private medical teams, during events, along with extra screening – including on arrival to the circuit – and all locally-based workers will also be tested before the event.

2. CLOSED EVENTS

The initial run of European races are currently not expected to be open to spectators, guests or partners. F1 hopes fans will be able to join events as soon as it is safe to do so, but in the meantime grandstands will be empty and the paddock much quieter than usual, with only essential personnel allowed in the confines of the circuit.

3. MINIMAL PERSONNEL

There will be a significant reduction in the personnel travelling to races from all parties, including the teams, the FIA, suppliers and F1 itself. To help achieve this, some functions of a race weekend – such as parts of the television broadcast – will be carried out remotely. Additionally, those personnel on site will be required to isolate in their respective team units and not interact with others.

4. ISOLATED TRAVEL

All personnel attending races – who will each have a negative test certificate following a test before departure – will travel in an isolated manner, with use of charter flights as much as possible and private transfers between venues, hotels and airports to ensure all event staff travel in a restricted 'bubble' to prevent any wider interaction with the non-tested public.

5. SOCIAL DISTANCING

Social distancing measures will be put in place and enforced throughout the F1 paddock and the circuit as a whole at each event. Pre and post-race activities such as the national anthem, parc ferme, podiums and cool down rooms will be altered to ensure safe distances can be maintained, as will media obligations and interviews.

FIRST 8 RACES OF 2020 CALENDAR

01. Grosser Preis von Osterreich
03-05 July (Red Bull Ring)

02. Grosser Preis der Steiermark
10-12 July (Red Bull Ring)

03. Magyar Nagydij
17-19 July (Hungaroring)

04. British Grand Prix
31 July - 02 August (Silverstone)

05. 70th Anniversary Grand Prix
07-09 August (Silverstone)

06. Gran Premio de Espana
14-16 August (Catalunya)

07. Belgian Grand Prix
28-30 August (Spa-Francorchamps)

08. Gran Premio d'Italia
04-06 September (Monza)

Due to the ongoing fluidity of the COVID-19 situation internationally, F1 will be finalising the details of the wider calendar and hope to publish that in the coming weeks with an expectation of having a total of 15-18 races before completing the season in December.>