The Silverstone double-header has been pushed back, while the Dutch Grand Prix has been cancelled on Formula 1’s new 2020 calendar.
Over the past week, new uncertainty enveloped Liberty Media’s plans for a revised schedule when the UK refused to grant an exemption for F1 personnel from a new mandatory two-week quarantine for travellers into the country set to be imposed from June 8.
Such a measure not only threw the pair of British races into doubt, it also threatened to heavily disrupt what is set to be a packed schedule filled with double and triple-headers.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is now reportedly pushing for that exemption to be given. But with uncertainty over when that will happen, F1 has taken no chances and will delay the two rounds at Silverstone by a week until August 2 and 9.
Under the revised calendar, Austria is still set to act as the new season opener with two races at the Red Bull Ring on July 5 and 12.
Now though, the Hungarian GP will form a triple-header on July 19 before a two-week break until Silverstone.
A notable change is Hockenheim, which now won’t have its own race, but will remain on standby to step up should the British GP’s be unable to proceed.
The Spanish GP will conclude another triple-header on August 16 before the traditional Spa and Monza double-header that ends the European season on August 30 and September 6.
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This means there is no space for the return of the Dutch GP at Zandvoort, and sporting director Jans Lammers confirmed the cancellation on Thursday.
“We were completely ready for this first race and we still are,” he said.
“An unbelievable achievement has been made thanks to all the fans, the companies and the governments involved.
“We and Formula 1 have investigated the potential to hold a rescheduled race this year without spectators, but we would like to celebrate this moment, the return of Formula 1 in Zandvoort, together with our racing fans in the Netherlands.
“We ask everyone to be patient. I had to look forward to it for 35 years, so I can wait another year.”
The final revised calendar is expected to be realised as early as this week.