The Monaco Grand Prix is set to become the latest casualty on the 2020 Formula 1 calendar, as coronavirus restrictions are put in place in the principality.
Still officially set to be the first race of the season after the cancellation of the five preceding races, it is now widely expected that F1’s showpiece event will not go ahead as scheduled on May 24 after the Monegasque government took the decision to close all “non-essential” public places from Saturday at midnight.
Restaurants, casinos, cafes, theatres, cinemas and nightclubs have all been closed after the city-state reported its third case of COVID-19 on Friday.
Instead, the sport’s organisers are believed to be targeting the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on June 7 in Baku as the 2020 opener, although unlike the other races that have fallen victim to the COVID-19 outbreak, they are reported to be especially interested in rescheduling Monaco given its ‘jewel in the crown’ status on the calendar.
Should the race in the principality not go ahead, it would be the first time since 1954 there has been no Monaco Grand Prix, bringing to an end its streak of 65 consecutive years as part of the F1 world championship.