Formula One confirms its finalized 2020 calendar

Formula One has added four more races to its curtailed 2020 calendar. With the latest announcement, it became official that the coronavirus-affected 2020 season will be contested over 17 race weekends.

The global coronavirus pandemic has forced the sport to heavily revise its 2020 schedule. Formula One announced its revised calendar in multiple steps and the season finally kicked off at Spielberg on July 5.

Formula One has now confirmed the last leg of the delayed and curtailed season with Turkey, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi playing host to the closing stage of the 2020 championship.

The announcement also means that the field will not visit China this year after all despite the efforts to return to the country that was the first epicentre of the Covid-19 coronavirus.

The sport has also confirmed its plans to allow fans to attend some races in the later stages of the season, but it is still yet to be confirmed which countries will be held with the attendance of spectators.

"We can confirm that a number of races in the revised 2020 season will be open to a limited number of fans, including hospitality, and we are working with each promoter to finalise the details.

"While we want to see as many fans as possible return as soon as it is safe to do so, our priority remains the safety of the Formula 1 community and the communities we visit, and we review fan access on this basis,” read a statement from Formula 1.

Formula 1 Chairman and CEO Chase Carey said: “We are proud to announce that Turkey, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi will be part of our 2020 season.

"This year has presented Formula 1 and the world with an unprecedented challenge and we want to pay tribute to everyone across Formula 1, the FIA, the teams, and our partners who have made this possible. While we are all disappointed that we have not been able to return to some of our planned races this year, we are confident our season has started well and will continue to deliver plenty of excitement with traditional, as well as new races that will entertain all our fans,” he said.