Azerbaijan GP latest F1 race to be postponed due to COVID-19

The start of the 2020 Formula 1 season has been delayed further following the postponement of Azerbaijan Grand Prix in June. 

Baku was set to host the 2020 season-opener on June 7 after the start of the campaign was decimated by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which has resulted in the first six races being postponed and the Monaco Grand Prix getting cancelled altogether. 

But with travel restrictions and strict social distancing measures being put in place across Europe amid the continued spread of COVID-19, Azerbaijan has become the eighth race to be shelved. 

The next scheduled race would be the Canadian Grand Prix on June 14 but there are growing doubts over whether the Montreal round can be staged.

After Canada comes the French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard on June 28, before F1 heads to Austria and Great Britain in July. With little sign of the coronavirus situation improving in Europe in the near-future, there are no guarantees over those events either. 

F1 CEO Chase Carey recently admitted he could not say for definite when the 2020 season would get underway. 

“We recognise everyone wants to know what comes next for Formula 1 in 2020 but we cannot provide specific answers given the fluidity of the situation,” Carey said. 

“However, we plan to get the 2020 championship season underway as soon as it is safe to do so. We are engaging with experts and officials on a daily basis and we evaluate how we go forward in the next few months.”

Baku race organisers say they hope to reschedule the event for later in the 2020 F1 season. 

Baku City Circuit statement in full: 

"Baku City Circuit (BCC) has today taken the decision to postpone the FORMULA 1 AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX 2020 due to take place on June 5th – 7th.

"The postponement was agreed upon after extensive discussions with Formula 1 as well as the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and the Government of the Azerbaijan Republic. This comes as a direct result of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic and has been based entirely on the expert guidance provided to us by the relevant authorities.

"In coming to this conclusion, BCC’s primary concern throughout has been the health and well-being of the Azerbaijani people as well as all visiting F1 fans, staff and championship participants.

"BCC shares its fans disappointment at not being able to experience the pinnacle of motorsport race through the streets of Baku this June. To that end, we will continue to work closely with Formula 1, the FIA and the Government of the Azerbaijan Republic to monitor the situation with a view to announcing a new race date later in the 2020 season.

"All tickets for the FORMULA 1 AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX 2020 will continue to be valid, without any additional formalities required. As soon as the new date of the Grand Prix is confirmed, all spectators will be informed accordingly about the available options, both for those who have purchased their tickets through the Baku City Circuit’s website (www.bakucitycircuit.com) and through other channels.

"The thoughts of everyone at Baku City Circuit during this challenging and unprecedented situation go out to all those directly and indirectly affected by the coronavirus pandemic."