PARIS: The opening race in Spielberg at the Red Bull Ring, belonging to the Austrian energy drink company that owns two of the 10 teams on the starting grid, would be held as planned over the July 3-5 weekend.

The French Grand Prix scheduled for June 28 at Le Castellet was earlier cancelled, becoming the 10th race in what was to have been a record 22-round season starting in March to be hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are now increasingly confident with the progress of our plans to begin our season this summer,” said Carey in a statement. “We’re targeting a start to racing in Europe through July, August and [the] beginning of September.

“September, October and November would see us race in Eurasia, Asia and the Americas, finishing the season in the Gulf in December with Bahrain before the traditional finale in Abu Dhabi, having completed between 15-18 races.”

Carey said Formula One had been working closely with teams and promoters and a definitive calendar would be published as soon as possible.

Other races still hoping to be rescheduled are Vietnam, China, Azerbaijan, Spain, the Netherlands and Canada.

“We expect the early races to be without fans but hope fans will be part of our events as we move further into the schedule,” said Carey.

“We still have to work out many issues like the procedures for the teams and our other partners to enter and operate in each country.”

The American, who represents US-based commercial rights holders Liberty Media, said health and safety would remain the top priority.

“We will only go forward if we are confident we have reliable procedures to address both risks and possible issues,” he said.

Formula One teams are on a factory shutdown, with the August break cancelled to allow a rescheduling of races, with five of the seven British-based ones furloughing staff in response to the crisis.

The resumption of racing will come as a huge relief to the teams, particularly privately-owned ones who rely on a share of the sport’s revenues from television and sponsorship to stay in business.

The 2020 schedule was already stretched to 22 races, with the inaugural Vietnam Grand Prix added to the calendar and the Dutch Grand Prix hosting its first race since 1985 as the German Grand Prix dropped out.

France has a ban on major events until mid-July, as well as travel restrictions on some foreign visitors, and French Grand Prix managing director Eric Boullier said that made it impossible to hold his race.

“Given the evolution of the situation linked to the spread of the Covid-19 virus, the French Grand Prix takes note of the decisions announced by the French state, making it impossible to maintain our event,” Boullier said.

Organisers of the race at Le Castellet were forced to act after President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement last week that the lockdown in France will be extended until May 11 and public gatherings banned until mid-July.

Ruling out holding the race behind closed doors, Boullier said: “Le Castellet are already turning towards the summer of 2021”.

Monaco, a highlight of the season in May, has already been cancelled with the March 15 Australian opener called off after teams had already flown to Melbourne.

The fate of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps on August 30 remains uncertain, with mass gatherings banned in the country until the following day.

There has been talk of Austria and Britain each hosting two races to make up the numbers but Carey did not address that possibility.

Britain, a home race for most teams as well as Mercedes’ six times world champion Lewis Hamilton, is scheduled for July 19 but organisers said that could only be behind closed doors.

“I am extremely disappointed to tell you that we are unable to stage this years British Grand Prix in front of the fans at Silverstone,” said Silverstone managing director, Stuart Pringle, in a message to fans.

“It is abundantly clear given the current conditions in the country and the Government requirements in place now and for the foreseeable future, that a Grand Prix under normal conditions is just not going to be possible.

“Our obligations to protect the health and safety of everyone involved in preparing and delivering the event... means that this is the best, safest and only decision we could make.”

Formula One’s finances have taken a hit with so many races called off, and smaller teams especially face an uncertain future. This has led to several discussions about reducing the budget-cap level.

“We have also been working hard with [governing body] FIA and the teams to strengthen the long term future of Formula 1 through an array of new technical, sporting, and financial regulations,” Carey said.

A budget cap of $175 million was agreed last year but teams want it lowered to $150 million for next year excluding driver salaries and engine costs. But McLaren wants it reduced to $100 million, an initiative which Ferrari opposes.

Some leading drivers, including Hamilton and four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari, are in the final year of their contracts.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2020