Formula 1 boss Chase Carey has outlined plans for the F1 season to finally get going this year with the first race of the season due to take place in Austria on July 5.
Like every sport, Formula 1’s calendar has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic, with the first race in Australia set to go ahead before being called off at the last-minute due to health and safety concerns of the teams and spectators involved.
Race after race has been postponed during the worsening of the crisis globally, with the French Grand Prix the latest to fall victim.
Organisers said on Monday their race at the Paul Ricard track on June 28 was off as a result of the country's ban on major events until mid-July.
Carey outlined his plans today stating that he is ‘increasingly confident with the progress of plans to begin the season this summer.’
In a massive lift for fans of the sport, Carey sketched out what the rest of the season could look like.
"September, October and November, would see us race in Eurasia, Asia and the Americas, finishing the season in the Gulf in December with Bahrain before the traditional finale in Abu Dhabi, having completed between 15-18 races. We will publish our finalised calendar as soon as we possibly can.
“We expect the early races to be without fans but hope fans will be part of our events as we move further into the schedule.
“We still have to work out many issues like the procedures for the teams and our other partners to enter and operate in each country.
“The health and safety of all involved will continue to be priority one and we will only go forward if we are confident, we have reliable procedures to address both risks and possible issues."
Silverstone, the host of the British Grand Prix, this morning emailed spectators stating that unfortunately they would not be able to welcome fans to the venue this year.
However, in a statement they outlined their talks with the government "on the viability of an event behind closed doors."
Under current plans, the old British Grand Prix date of July 19 would be the first of two races at Silverstone, the second a week later on July 26.
Whilst obviously disappointing for ticket holders, the news that the calendar will hopefully finally get underway in the summer is a huge boost for fans who have been starved of any top level sporting action since the middle of March when the pandemic ravaged across the globe.