Formula 1 could be set for surprise returns to the Nurburgring and Sepang in 2020 as part of the heavily revised schedule.
Currently, 10 races have been confirmed, including the first-ever F1 race at Mugello, which will also host Ferrari's 1000th Grand Prix a week after the Italian GP at Monza.
Beyond that, however, there is still uncertainty, with the Chinese GP now set to be officially cancelled and the US, Brazilian and Mexican races also highly unlikely due to high numbers of Covid-19 cases.
That has led to increased speculation of a fourth tripleheader in Europe consisting of races at Imola, Portimao and now the Nurburgring in October.
The historic track has not hosted F1 since 2013 but RaceFans is now reporting it as the most likely venue for a German GP, this after Hockenheim had become increasingly impatient over whether it would be asked to fill a spot on the 2020 calendar.
Still, with the F1 season expected to end with a doubleheader in Bahrain followed by the Abu Dhabi GP on December 13, that leaves space for potential back-to-back races in early November.
And Auto Motor und Sport claims that will be filled by a trip to Asia for the inaugural Vietnam GP and a return to Malaysia, which last welcomed F1 in 2017.
The government and Sepang Circuit bosses have been talking up a future comeback in recent months, and without the usual costs that drove the race off the schedule three years ago, the current situation presents a good opportunity to bring back the popular Grand Prix.
In the short-term, however, there's increased uncertainty over next month's Spanish GP as a new spike in Covid-19 races hits the country and particularly Catalonia.
Some parts of the region, where the race is due to take place, are being put back into lockdown with stay-at-home orders in place.
For now, though, a spokesperson for the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya told Motorsport.com: “Everything is going ahead as planned. We are not affected by the restrictions.
"Everything is controlled and reinforced with F1, the FIA and circuit protocols, which are very strict.”
If the situation there does worsen, however, a third race at Silverstone is being considered to fill the August 16 date.
