2020 F1 calendar: What’s confirmed, cancelled and rumoured

While teams, drivers and fans now have a definite first race to prepare and look forward to, the 2020 Formula 1 calendar remains somewhat up in air with today’s confirmation three more events have been formally axed for this year.

Though the news of Singapore with its inflexible September 20 date and pre-determined lead in time to prepare its street circuit, plus Japan with its stricter-than-most entry requirements, being cancelled came as no surprise, it seemed Azerbaijan was working hard to agree a new date.

Having already shifted to a mid-summer June 7 date over the winter, Azerbaijan promoters were hopeful the event – which is reputed to pay the highest hosting fee of any other – could get a new slot. However, the constraints of having the Baku Street Circuit prepared in time means the popular Eurasian round cannot go ahead.

The triple cancellation means F1 has now lost seven events from its heavily disrupted schedule (together with Australia, Monaco, France and Netherlands) and adds to F1’s headache of meeting the 15-18 races it continues to plan for.

While that means nine events remain postponed or pending, it remains unclear whether F1 will be able to venture too far from Europe during the Autumn period due to the moving targets of disparate national entry and logistical requirements.

Which 2020 F1 rounds are confirmed?

To date, F1 has confirmed eight rounds – over just ten weeks – kicking off with races at the Red Bull Ring, the Hungaroring, Silverstone, Spa and Monza.

The Austrian and British races will be made up of two races each held on back-to-back race weekends, though this cluster of events is only confirmed up to September 6.

What of the ‘pending’ 2020 F1 events?

While nine rounds are still listed as pending or postponed, of these only three at the moment look fairly certain of being included in the next calendar confirmation.

Russian promoters are confident the Sochi Autodrom will be able to hold its races as planned and has proposed it would also be able to do two races over back-to-back weekends.

In addition to this, F1 has repeatedly intimated that Abu Dhabi and Bahrain – rearranged from its original March date – will also feature as the final races in December, with Bahrain considering using two different layouts for back-to-back races to mix it up.

However, Brazil looks shaky due to its difficulties in getting a grip on the coronavirus, while the Circuit of The Americas could also fall foul depending on whether entry restrictions will be eased by the time October comes around.

Mexico promoters say they are confident of being able to host its race though, while China and debutants Vietnam are pushing hard to feature after its events were put on hold at the top of the year. If they don’t go ahead though, it means F1 will not visit Asia in 2020.

Which unexpected tracks could feature on revised 2020 F1 calendar?

While it appears F1 is playing the waiting game in the hope changes to overseas entry requirements and logistical transfer return to some form of normality later in the year, it does appear to have a back-up plan to focus primarily on Europe by arranging events at former or entirely new F1 venues.

At the moment four ‘wild-card’ venues are in consideration for an event – Mugello and Imola in Italy, Portimao in Portugal and the Hockenheimring in Germany.

Of these, the Ferrari-owned Mugello and Portimao have never hosted events before, which could create an interesting dynamic for the title-contending drivers at a critical stage in the season.

Interestingly, if they fill in the gaps in September and October, they could well be rounds that are able to open their doors to some spectators by then as F1 is still hoping to do.

Deliberations over the F1 calendar come after MotoGP confirmed it will meet its 13-race minimum in order for it to be classified as an FIM World Championship season by committing to a largely European-based calendar running from July to November, with up to four overseas events to potentially be confirmed in addition.