On Friday, Azerbaijan, Singapore, and Japan canceled their 2020 Formula 1 races.
Formula One Management interpreted the cancellations this way: “As a result of the ongoing challenges presented by COVID-19, we and our promoters in Azerbaijan, Singapore, and Japan have decided to cancel their races 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.”
Friday’s announcement runs counter to an announcement made just a few weeks ago when F1 had approved running a set of races in Austria (two races), Great Britain (two races), Hungary, Spain, Belgium, and Italy.
Those eight races will enable the sport to have a 2020 championship season, and other races (if approved) could make for a 15-18 race season. But, now, the cancellation of three more races puts F1 in a tough position. Still at issue is whether Grand Prix races will be run in Russia this year, and the status of postponed competitions in China and Viet Nam are up in the air.
In the Americas, Canada already has withdrawn in 2020, but the United States, Mexico, and Brazil are still in contention. But, here again, Brazil and the United States have high cases of Coronavirus, and that situation could translate into no racing this year. Mexico is in the same boat.
That situation leaves the Middle East countries of Bahrain and (the finale) in Abu Dhabi as the last possible choices–with Bahrain possibly hosting two races with different track layouts.
Especially if races in the Americas aren’t run this year, other circuits in Europe might step in to fill the void. Mugello in Italy, Hockenheim in Germany, and Portimao in Portugal are three possible replacements.
How will things turn out? F1 is expected to make that call before the season-opening event in Austria on July 5th.
