Press Association (PA) news agency is reporting that the Dutch Grand Prix scheduled to make a return to Zandvoort on 3 May will be cancelled as have the first four races of the season.
PA reports that the coronavirus outbreak continues to affect the world of sport with the Dutch Grand Prix set to be the next race pulled from Formula 1’s schedule.
There were conflicting messages as to when the new F1 season might start after this weekend’s curtain-raiser in Australia was cancelled, with subsequent races in Bahrain, Vietnam and China postponed.
F1’s governing body, the FIA, issued a statement to indicate the campaign could get underway at the beginning of May – in time for the race in Holland.
F1, however, said the end of May is now the target. And it is understood that the Dutch round, scheduled for May 3 will be postponed. Official confirmation is expected at the start of next week.
It is hoped that the Zandvoort race, which returns to the calendar after an absence of 35 years, could be moved to August, with the sport’s traditional summer break scrapped.
The Spanish Grand Prix, due to take place a week after the race in Holland on May 10 is also set to be called off. It is unclear whether it will be rescheduled.
The majority view of the sport’s travelling circus is to delay the campaign until the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, pencilled in for June 7, at the earliest, with the possibility of as many as 18 races crammed into six months. However, the situation remains fluid with huge uncertainty around the long-term impact of Covid-19.
F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton said he was “gutted” not to be involved in qualifying on Saturday. The Briton has remained in Melbourne though and went indoor rock climbing instead.
International motorsport events affected by COVID-19:
- Formula One: Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 15 canceled.
- Formula One: Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir on March 22 postponed.
- Formula One: Vietnam Grand Prix in Hanoi on April 5 postponed.
- Formula One: Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on April 19 postponed.
- IndyCar: St. Petersburg Grand Prix in Florida on March 15 canceled.
- IndyCar: Alabama Grand :Prix in Birmingham on April 5 canceled.
- IndyCar: Long Beach Grand Prix in California on April 19 canceled.
- IndyCar: AutoNation Challenge in Austin, Texas on April 26 canceled.
- 12 Hours of Sebring in Florida on March 21-22 postponed to November.
- NASCAR: Atlanta 500 on March 15 canceled.
- NASCAR: Miami 400 on March 22 canceled.
- Formula E: Sanya E-Prix in Japan on March 21 canceled.
- Formula E: Rome E-Prix on April 4 canceled.
- Formula E: Paris E-Prix on April 18 canceled.
- Formula E: Seoul E-Prix on May 3 canceled.
- Formula E: Jakarta E-Prix on June 6 canceled.
MotoGP & World Superbikes
- Qatar Grand Prix in Doha on March 8 canceled.
- Thailand Grand Prix in Buriram on March 22 postponed to Oct. 4.
- Aragon Grand Prix in Spain moved from Oct. 4 to Sept. 27.
- Americas Grand Prix in Austin, Texas on April 5 postponed to Nov. 15.
- Argentina Grand Prix in Termas de Rio Hondo on April 19 postponed to Nov. 22.
- Valencia Grand Prix in Spain on Nov. 15 moved to Nov. 29.
- Qatar Round in Lusail on March 15 postponed.
- Spanish Round in Cadiz on March 29 postponed to Oct. 25.
- French Round in Magny-Cours on Sept. 27 postponed to Oct. 4.