Formula One boss Chase Carey says the sport is targeting a 15 to 18 race season that is likely to extend beyond the current November finale.
This morning it was announced that the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, scheduled for June 7, has been postponed. The total figure of races either cancelled or postponed now rests at eight.
But in a separate statement issued by Carey post the Azerbaijan announcement, he stressed that the sport is committed to bringing fans a 2020 Championship Season.
With the agreement by all teams to freeze the technical regulations throughout 2021, succeeded by the annual summer break being brought forward to accommodate the current coronavirus-induced suspension, Carey is adamant that a championship season of 15-18 races can be run.
“We are all committed to bringing our fans a 2020 Championship Season,” read Carey’s statement.
“We recognise there is significant potential for additional postponements in currently scheduled events, nonetheless we and our partners fully expect the season to start at some point this summer, with a revised calendar of between 15-18 races.
“As previously announced we will utilise the summer break being brought forward to March/April to race during the normal summer break period, and anticipate the season end date will extend beyond our original end date of 27-29th November, with the actual sequence and schedule dates for races differing significantly from our original 2020 calendar.
“With the benefit of the FIA’s announcement and agreement in principle to freeze technical regulations throughout 2021, no summer break and factory shut downs being moved forward to March / April the sport now intends to race through the period normally set aside for the summer break and fulfil lost events from the first part of this year.”
However, once again Carey emphasised that it is currently inconceivable to pinpoint an exact date as to when racing will resume.
“It is not possible to provide a more specific calendar now due to the fluidity of the current situation but we expect to gain clearer insights to the situation in each of our host countries, as well as the issues related to travel to these countries, in the coming month.”
