Baku set to stage F1 opener as Dutch, Spanish and Monaco GPs fall

The 2020 Formula 1 season is set to begin in June at the earliest after the Dutch, Spanish and Monaco rounds became the latest races to be affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

A revamped Zandvoort circuit was due to return to the F1 calendar following a 35-year hiatus on May 3 but it has now been postponed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, while the Spanish Grand Prix on May 10 and Monaco Grand Prix on May 24 have also been called off.

Given the difficulties in any attempts to reschedule the Monaco round - seen as one F1's most prestigious race - it is likely 2020 will be the first season not to feature a race at Monte Carlo.

F1 abandoned its season-opening Australian Grand Prix when McLaren withdrew from the Melbourne event after one of its team members tested positive for COVID-19.

That was followed up by a further announcement from F1 that upcoming races in Bahrain and Vietnam on March 22 and April 5 had also been postponed.

Seven races in total have now been called off due to the global spread of coronavirus, with the Chinese Grand Prix - originally slated as the fourth round on April 19 - becoming the first race to fall last month.

Following the further delays, the earliest the 2020 season will now begin is at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on June 7, originally meant to be the eighth round of the campaign.

Full F1 statement: 

"In view of the continued global spread of COVID-19 and after ongoing discussions with Formula 1 and the three promoters, it has today been confirmed that the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix 2020, Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix 2020 and Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix 2020 will be postponed.

"Due to the ongoing and fluid nature of the COVID-19 situation globally, the FIA, Formula 1 and the three promoters have taken these decisions in order to ensure the health and safety of the travelling staff, championship participants and fans, which remains our primary concern.

"The FIA and Formula 1 continue to work closely with affected promoters and local authorities to monitor the situation and take the appropriate amount of time to study the viability of potential alternative dates for each Grand Prix later in the year should the situation improve.

"The FIA and Formula 1 expect to begin the 2020 Championship season as soon as it is safe to do so after May and will continue to regularly monitor the ongoing COVID-19 situation."