A draft copy of the potential Formula 2 schedule is offering a look at how Formula 1’s revised 2020 calendar may look.
Commercial rights holder Liberty Media has been actively working to put together a 15-18 race season after the first 10 Grands Prix were either cancelled or postponed due to the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, both the F2 and F3 season have also been on hold as well, but are expected to join F1 around Europe, Eurasia and the Middle East, making this leaked draft seen by Autosport credible.
On the schedule, it confirms Austria will start with two races on July 5 and 12 before Britain has its own double-header on July 26 and August 2.
Either Barcelona or Hockenheim would complete a third straight weekend of racing on August 9.
However, Hungary, set for August 23, could move back to that date if Hockenheim gets the go-ahead.
Monza remains on its original date of September 6, while Belgium could either take place a week before or a week after.
Baku replaces Singapore either on September 20 or 27 depending on Spa, with Sochi a week later though both will be F2 only events.
F3 would then return for a Middle East double-header to close out the season in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi on December 6 and 13 respectively.
Of course, not included in the calendar is F1’s Asian stops and trip to the Americas.
Singapore is continuing to monitor the Covid-19 situation there, while Japan has recently stopped ticket sales for its race at Suzuka.
China is expected to get a new date and Vietnam could look to reschedule their inaugural event on the new street circuit in Hanoi.
Across the Pacific, there’s no word yet on the US, Mexican and Brazilian GPs, though Canada has said they could reschedule before the winter closes in.
The key to all of this if F1’s strategy to create team “bubbles” in the paddock to improve social-distancing and conduct coronavirus testing every 48 hours.
And asked for the drivers’ view on the measures, Grand Prix Drivers’ Association chairman Alex Wurz was full of praise.
“They are really trying their best and doing it in a typical F1 safety way, which is immaculate,” the Austrian told The Guardian.
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“The drivers have been reassured, I can only underline that. I feel confident that the right steps are being made in an efficient time frame and unless outside circumstances intervene I believe we could start the 2020 season in Austria in July.
“Motor racing has been a pioneer in safety. Right now, it’s not about saving a driver’s life or a spectator or a marshal but the whole safety protocol, analysing it and identifying strengths and weaknesses. What we have now, the idea of a closed-loop system at a race venue is really impressive.”
Wurz though acknowledges it only needs a second spike in cases for everything to change.
“Things can change quite quickly because you have many nations and nationalities involved. If half of the paddock was stuck in quarantine that would throw a spanner in the gearbox of going racing in July,” he added.