Opinion: What Will Happen with F1's 2020 Calendar?
Today (June 12th), the 2020 Azerbaijan, Singapore and Japanese Grands Prix were all cancelled, creating a gaping hole in the 2020 calendar between September and October. Let's take a look at what circuits from the original F1 2020 schedule could hold a race, and what new circuits could join the revised 2020 F1 calendar:
Current circuits:
Sochi Autodrom, Russia:
As it stands, the 2020 Russian Grand Prix is the nearest event that is yet to be cancelled or postponed, currently set to take place on September 27th. Despite the circuit being a semi-street circuit around Sochi's Winter Olympic Park, it is likely that the event will go ahead as planned, as the circuit fits F1's 'biosphere' needs of being easily secluded from the public, and being near an airport. Sochi could even host a double header event, with the organisers saying they are open to the idea (https://overtakemedia.site123.me/articles/f1-sochi-open-to-hosting-a-double-header-event?c=single-seaters).
Circuit of the Americas, USA:
The 2020 US Grand Prix is one of the few Grands Prix yet to be cancelled or postponed, however while there has been no official announcement, it is understood that this year's event is unlikely to take place, with the country being the worst hit in the world by the coronavirus pandemic, and with a current major events ban in Texas.
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico:
The rebranded Mexico City Grand Prix is still set to take place on November 1st, however the venue has been taken over as a COVID-19 hosptial. Unless the country's Coronavirus situation improves so that the circuit can be returned to a racing facility, the race will not go ahead.
Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Brazil:
There hasn't been much news about the fate of this year's Brazilian Grand Prix, however as it stands the South American country as the 3rd largest death toll and the 2nd largest case toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, so unless the situation in Brazil improves drastically before the race's original date of November 15th it is unlikely the race will go ahead.
Yas Marina Circuit, UAE:
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is looking set to host the 2020 season finale as per contract, but on a delayed date of December 13th rather than the original November 29th. The event is set to host the 3rd race of a Middle Eastern triple header to finish out the 2020 season, with F1 confident that the race will go ahead as planned.
Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain:
As stated above, a Middle Eastern triple header is set to see out the 2020 Formula 1 season, with 2 races in Bahrain followed by the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The advantage that the Sakhir venue has is that is has several layouts available to use with the FIA Grade 1 status required to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix. Ross Brawn hinted at an 'almost oval' layout being used at Bahrain for the 2nd race, which would indicate Bahrain's 'Outer Circuit' being used, which cuts out the infield section of the Grand Prix circuit by leaving the circuit at Turn 4 before rejoining at Turn 13, using part of the 'Endurance Circuit' that F1 used for the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix.
Hanoi Street Circuit, Vietnam:
Both F1 and the organisers of the inaugural Vietnamese Grand Prix are keen for the event to go ahead in 2020, and the COVID-19 figures show that a race could feasibly take place, with no fatalities recorded. However the issue that the organisers face is the same that caused the cancellations of the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix, which is the long build up process that a street event brings and the necessity to commit to the race early on. At the moment, it is thought that Vietnam will host a race just before the Middle Eastern triple header finale, however nothing is confirmed.
Shanghai International Circuit, China:
The 2020 Chinese Grand Prix was the first to be postponed from its original date of April 19th, however it also became the first circuit to reopen as China's COVID-19 figures improved vastly. F1 is keen to hold a Chinese Grand Prix in 2020, so one would expect the event to take place, however no official announcement has been made about the race going ahead, let alone a possible date.
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Canada:
The Canadian Grand Prix was briefly thought to be the opening round of the 2020 season on June 14th, however the event was eventually postponed. The Montréal venue is a semi-street circuit, so would prove harder than most circuits to organise a coronavirus-effected event, and the race is considered to be an 'outsider' to take place in 2020.
And onto the circuits that currently do not host a Formula 1 Grand Prix:
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Italy:
Imola, the former San Marino Grand Prix host, has thrown its hat into the ring on various occasions this year to fill in for cancelled Grands Prix. The circuit has just renewed its FIA Grade 1 licence as the Italy-based AlphaTauri F1 Team will be testing at the Imola venue to prepare for the F1 season opener in Austria, a move that boosts the circuit's chances of returning to the F1 calendar. The last F1 race to take place at Imola was the 2006 San Marino Grand Prix.
Mugello Circuit, Italy:
Mugello has never hosted a Formula 1 Grand Prix, but does have an FIA Grade 1 status. MotoGP is the circuit's main event of the year, and the venue is property of Ferrari, with the team using the circuit for testing. It is looking likely for Mugello to host an F1 race this year for the first time, however potential issues include the venue's ability to seclude F1 from the public, as personnel would have to stay in the busy city of Florence. MotoGP recently cancelled its race at the venue, possibly indicating that an F1 race is but an official announcement away from happening.
Hockenheimring, Germany:
Hockenheim is no stranger to F1, with many a race being hosted at the venue over the years. While being on the 2019 calendar, the German Grand Prix was not included no the original 2020 schedule, however it is understood that the return of the fan-favourite venue is almost certain, possibly even hosting 2 races due to its central European location.
Algarve International Circuit, Portugal:
While never having hosted a Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Portimão Circuit is one of Portugal's largest motorsport venues, with major endurance races and touring car events being held there over the years. This year, the venue gained an FIA Grade 1 licence for the first time, and the return of the Portuguese Grand Prix for the first time since 1996 at Estoril could prove attractive to F1, what with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya's current financial issues possibly causing the loss of the Spanish Grand Prix beyond 2020.
