Belgian GP promoter halts ticket sales for F1 race

The Belgian Grand Prix promoter has stopped selling tickets for the Formula 1 race in response to the government announcing further restrictions on public gatherings.

An extension to the ban of public events in the country until September has placed the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps race - due to be held on August 30 - under threat of postponement.

The opening nine races of the 2020 season have already been postponed as a result of the global coronavirus crisis, with the French Grand Prix on June 28 set to be the next event affected by the ongoing pandemic after France banned large public gatherings until mid-July.

Following the national government’s announcement on Wednesday, race promoters for the Belgium Grand Prix confirmed it had suspended ticket sales, increasing the likelihood of postponement, though the race could still take place behind closed doors.

“Spa Grand Prix acknowledges the federal government’s decision to ban all mass events until August 31st,” a statement from the Belgium GP race organisers read.

“We support this decision because your health and that of all the Belgian Grand Prix’s stakeholders is our priority.

“As a consequence, from today, all the ticket sales for the 2020 edition of our national Grand Prix will be suspended.

“As for the ticket holders, we will obviously respect our general terms and conditions of sale.

“We will keep you informed of any development as soon as possible.”

F1's latest plan to get the 2020 season underway is to take advantage of Austria easing its lockdown restrictions by hosting a behind-closed doors race in Spielberg as planned on July 5, before potentially holding multiple races at Silverstone.