Baku postponement likely; Canada could open 2020 F1 season
Formula 1’s 2020 season likely won't kick off until mid-June as it appears now the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, scheduled for June 7, is set to be postponed. Baku's postponement would earmark the Canadian GP on June 14 as the season-opener.
Following the official postponement of a number of races over the past 10 days off the back of the failed attempt to host the Australian GP, the first race currently on the calendar that has not been addressed is Azerbaijan. However, RACER understands the event in Baku is set to be postponed, with an announcement due as early as Monday.
The Baku City Circuit is a logistical challenge to build in the heart of the Azeri capital, and, as a result, requires a significant amount of time for preparation. But the current uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 pandemic means guarantees of a race date cannot be given and so it is set to be postponed.
So far, only the Monaco GP has confirmed it is cancelled for 2020 as it is unable to host the race on another date; while Australia is unlikely to be rescheduled due to the impact of building the temporary circuit on Albert Park.
Once Baku’s postponement is confirmed, the opening race becomes the Canadian GP, with Montreal originally set to form the second part of a June back-to-back with Baku.
F1 is replacing all postponed races with eSports events, starting today with the virtual Bahrain Grand Prix that features current F1 drivers Lando Norris and Nicholas Latifi as well as former drivers Nico Hulkenberg, Stoffel Vandoorne, Esteban Gutierrez, Anthony Davidson and Johnny Herbert.
Chris Medland
While studying Sports Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, Chris managed to talk his way into working at the British Grand Prix in 2008 and was retained for three years before joining ESPN F1 as Assistant Editor. After three further years at ESPN, a spell as F1 Editor at Crash Media Group was followed by the major task of launching F1i.com’s English-language website and running it as Editor. Present at every race since the start of 2014, he has continued building his freelance portfolio, working with international titles. As well as writing for RACER, his broadcast work includes television appearances on F1 TV and as a presenter and reporter on North America's live radio coverage on SiriusXM.
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