F1 adds four races but China cut

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August 26, 2020

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F1 adds four races but China cut

Source: Agencies | 00:00 UTC+8 August 26, 2020 |

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Four Grand Prix races, in Turkey, Bahrain (two) and Abu Dhabi, have been added to the 2020 Formula One calendar, but the postponed Chinese GP has been cancelled, F1 organizers announced yesterday.

The addition of the four races and the elimination of the Chinese GP in Shanghai bring the race total to 17 for the coronavirus-affected season.

“We can confirm that Turkey, Bahrain (hosting two races), and Abu Dhabi will be part of the revised season and want to express our thanks to the hard work of all our promoters and partners in making this 17-race season possible,” organizers said in a statement.

Formula One returns to Turkey for the first time since 2011, with the Turkish GP to be run at Istanbul Park on November 15. That is followed by a back-to-back double header in Bahrain, with the Bahrain GP on November 26 and the Sakhir GP on December 6.

The season-concluding Abu Dhabi GP will take place at the Yas Marina Circuit on December 13.

Sakhir will be the third circuit to host two races this season after Austria’s Red Bull Ring and Britain’s Silverstone.

Formula One organizers added that “a number of races in the revised 2020 season will be open to a limited number of fans, including hospitality, and we are working with each promoter to finalize the details.

“While we want to see as many fans as possible return as soon as it is safe to do so, our priority remains the safety of the Formula 1 community and the communities we visit, and we review fan access on this basis.

“Due to the ongoing fluidity of the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to maintain close dialogue with all promoters and local authorities to ensure we operate in the safest way possible and monitor each national situation closely — including travel restrictions and local health procedures.”

Chase Carey, chairman and CEO of Formula 1, said this year had “presented Formula 1 and the world with an unprecedented challenge.”

Last month, F1 organizers scrapped the races in the United States, Mexico, Brazil and Canada, but added three in Europe, handing an F1 debut to Portugal’s Portimao track and a return for Germany’s Nurburgring and Imola in Italy.

The first Vietnamese Grand Prix, postponed from April, will not be happening either although its cancellation has yet to be confirmed officially.

The sport was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the season postponed just hours before the opening practice of the traditional curtain raiser in Melbourne in March.

The season finally got under way last month with two races in Austria before moving to Hungary. All events so far have been behind closed doors.

Motor Racing

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F1 adds four races but China cut

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