The 2020 Formula 1 season finally looks set to get started after a months-long delay due to the global pandemic.
F1 CEO Chase Carey made major Formula 1 2020 news as he confirmed plans to start the season in July and revealed the first eight races of the revised 2020 calendar.
Meanwhile, there has also been talk about potential format changes for select races, as well as the F1 futures of Mercedes and Renault.
As always, SBOBET is here to make sure you are caught up with all the biggest headlines surrounding Formula 1.
Formula 1’s first 8 races of 2020 calendar revealed
The F1 season is all set to start the 2020 season with back-to-back races in Austria, followed by six more races in Europe.
The first of the two Austrian Grands Prix at the Red Bull Ring will be on July 5, followed by a second race on the same track a week later. The Hungarian Grand Prix will follow just a week after, before a quick one-week break.
F1 will then return for another back-to-back series of races at Silverstone as the British Grand Prix celebrates its 70th anniversary. The Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona will be next on the calendar before another break.
The Belgian Grand Prix will be held after the break, with the Italian Grand Prix at Monza a week later.
The Formula 1 2020 odds should have Max Verstappen favoured to make a strong start to the season in Austria. The Red Bull driver is the back-to-back defending champion in the team’s home race.
However, the Dutchman will be disappointed with the news that the Dutch Grand Prix, which had initially been postponed, has now been officially cancelled. It was all set to make its return to the F1 calendar this year after a 35-year absence.
F1 is still finalising details for the other races on the calendar and expects to hold a total of 15-18 races by December. It is “highly confident” of finishing the championship with races in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi in December.
China, Vietnam, and Japan could also be ready to host races in October due to the decline of COVID-19 cases in those countries.
Other changes to 2020 Formula 1 season
The calendar isn’t the only thing that will change significantly this season. F1 is also set to implement strict guidelines to ensure the health and safety of the teams and drivers amid the threat of COVID-19.
Regular testing will be conducted for all teams, while social distancing must also be practised. Moreover, each team will be limited to a maximum of only 80 people on raceday.
F1 has also discussed the possibility of changing the format in the second of the back-to-back races at the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone to prevent both races from playing out the same way.
One such proposal was to replace qualifying with a reverse-grid sprint race, which would see the leader of the championship starting in last as the race decides the starting order for the main race.
However, this proposal was not agreed upon unanimously by the teams, with Mercedes offering opposition. Any change to the rules after the start of a year in which a championship takes place requires the unanimous approval of teams before it can be introduced.
Mercedes, Renault respond to Formula 1 exit rumours
Mercedes and Renault look set to stay in F1 for the foreseeable future despite rumours that they could soon leave the sport.
Mercedes’ parent company, Daimler, strongly denied a recent report in Germany claiming that they were set to sell the team to Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll next year.
“Speculation regarding a potential withdrawal from Formula One continues to be unfounded and irresponsible,” it said in a statement per ESPN. “The sport has taken the right measures to address the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and its future financial sustainability, and we welcome these steps.”
Meanwhile, Renault’s Acting CEO Clotilde Delbos also reiterated the team’s desire to remain in F1. This comes shortly after F1 and the FIA lower the new budget cap from $175 million to $145 million in 2021.
“We have said publicly, and we confirm, that we intend to stay in Formula 1,” said Delbos.
“Actually the news about new regulations, a new cap in terms of investment, is very good for us because we had less investment in this area than some of our competitors, who were spending a lot of money. So F1, we’re here and we’ll stay.”
Renault are still in the process of finding a replacement for driver Daniel Ricciardo, who is set to move to McLaren next year. Former world champion Fernando Alonso has been heavily linked with a return to his old team in recent weeks.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FORMULA 1 STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
