2020 F1 calendar confirmed, sporting regulation tweaks set for vote

The 2020 Formula 1 world championship calendar has been officially confirmed with no changes to the provisional plans, while changes to the sporting regulations have been discussed at the latest FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting which will be voted on in the coming weeks.

F1 gears up for its biggest-ever campaign with 22 races, while pre-season testing has been reduced to six days in total and the two two-day in-season tests are set to be dropped, with the 2020 campaign getting underway on 15^th March with the Australian Grand Prix.

At today’s FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting held in Cologne’s Michael Schumacher Exhibition, the governing body has also confirmed changes to the 2020 sporting regulations were discussed and will be voted on.

Details on the proposed sporting rule changes for next year were not released by the FIA, but are likely to include the reverse qualifying race idea that has been met with a mixed reception by F1 drivers.

After initially calling the reverse grid qualifying race “complete bullshit”, Lewis Hamilton has clarified his comments and says he would be open to tweaking the F1 format at races he saw as typically boring.

The FIA Council were also presented with an updated draft of the 2021 F1 sporting, technical and financial regulations shake-up with a separate vote set to take place for the rules to be published by 31^st October 2019.

A permanent GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers’ Association) seat will be added to the FIA Drivers’ Commission meetings to ensure drivers are represented on sporting, safety matters and accident investigations.

F1 drivers have been keen to voice their opinions through the GPDA on the changes set to transform the sport, while a number of drivers present at recent FIA meetings this year.

*Subject to circuit homologation