Formula 1 calls off three more races

Formula 1 has today announced that the Azerbaijan, Singapore and Japanese Grands Prix have been officially called off due to varying COVID-19 developments in the countries concerned.

The sport has earlier confirmed the opening eight grands prix of the heavily-revised 2020 F1 calandar that features two sequences of races taking place on three consecutive weekends. The sport has re-arranged the calendar in order to get the action up and running after the long delay. The non-European races have been left out as the sport is still working with promoters and authorities on the feasability of those events.

By now, three races – the Australian, the French and the Monaco Grands Prix – have been cancelled for 2020 with their return expected next year. Formula 1 has now communicated that three other races have been cancelled after the promoters in Azerbaijan, Singapore and Japan have taken the decision to cancel their events for the 2020 season.

„In Singapore and Azerbaijan the long lead times required to construct street circuits made hosting the events during a period of uncertainty impossible and in Japan, ongoing travel restrictions also led to the decision not to proceed with the race,” the statement read.

Formula 1 has also confirmed that it sill intends to establish a calendar featuring between 15-18 races. It has also been communicated that the plan has remain to finish the disrupted season in Abu Dhabi in mid-December. The new calendar could feature new venues after new promoters have expressed their interest in hosting F1 races during the 2020 season.

It is believed that the finalised calendar would be introduced before the season starts in Austria on July 5.