Hungary and Hockenheim could step in to bolster the 2020 F1 calendar

The Hungaroring and the Hockenheimring circuits could host races in the second half of July should the races at Silverstone fail to materialize following the recent announcement of the British government.

The government of Great Britain has announced on Friday that it would introduce new rules in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. As the situation has only shown slow progress with a still high number of new infections, the country is set to introduce new measures to contain the spread of the virus.

Coming into force on June 8, everyone entering the country must be quarantined for fourteen days before being able to move across Great Britain. After three weeks, the government will review the necessity of the rule.

With seven out of the ten Formula 1 teams being based in the UK, this new rule has a big impact on the 2020 F1 season. Liberty Media, the Commercial Rights Holder of the sport has been working on a revised calendar after the first ten grands prix had been cancelled or postponed.

It was believed that after a double-header race in Austria, Silverstone was due to host two races at two consecutive weekends. However, the new ruling means that teams based outside the UK – Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and AlphaTauri – and tyre supplier Pirelli would need to self-isolate themselves for fourteen days before being able to travel to Silverstone. Although F1 has been lobbied for an exception, the sport has been told on Friday that it will not be exempted.

This strict rule can severely disrupt the start of the entire F1 season. While the rule can be lifted at the end of July, Silverstone also requires a certain amount of lead time to prepare itself for an event featuring two races at two consecutive weekends.

In order to establish continuity in the delayed 2020 season, the sport could opt for a rather intensive July. Replacing Silverstone, Hungary and Germany could step in by both staging a race.

It is believed that an option is that the field heads to Hungary following the two race weekends in Austria with the race at the Hungaroring taking place on July 19. After the grand prix near Budapest, the action could resume at the Hockenheimring at the following weekend.

This congested schedule would mean that the travelling team personnel of the UK-based teams and FOM would need to stay at hotels in Austria, Hungary and Germany without getting back home for a period of almost four weeks, avoiding a possible quarantine.