This evening (Monday), F1 boss, Chase Carey has issued the following:

"Over the past week, Formula 1, the ten F1 teams and the FIA have come together and taken rapid, decisive action as part of our initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While at present no-one can be certain of exactly when the situation will improve, it will improve and when it does, we will be ready to go racing again. We are all committed to bringing our fans a 2020 Championship Season.

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.

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.

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.

This flexibility offers an opportunity to evolve the sport, experiment and try new things. That may include initiatives such as expanding our esports platform, developing more innovative content like Netflix's Drive to Survive, and other creative ways to drive ongoing value for the sport's sponsor partners, broadcast partners, race promoters, teams and fans – the ecosystem of our fantastic sport.

Between Formula 1, the teams and the FIA, working with our key stakeholders, we are planning and fully committed to returning to the track at the earliest opportunity to commence the 2020 season. We will continue to take advice from health officials and experts, as our first priority continues to be the safety and health of our fans, the communities we visit and those within the Formula 1 family.

We're confident we'll all get through this and see better days, ahead, and, when we do, we will ensure that everyone invested in this sport at every level feels rewarded."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Superbird70, 24/03/2020 13:10

"Look, the Olympics are postponed one year. Now is the time to cancel the season and look to see how all the sponsors, big manufacturers and the FIA can come to together to ensure all ten teams can survive until next year. Otherwise, 2021 may not happen either."

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2. Posted by Redphyve, 24/03/2020 9:26

"Idiot.

The man is an idiot.

#BringBackBernie

Note to self: Did I really just say that? need to check temps
"

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3. Posted by alvarezh3, 24/03/2020 2:21

"@Max Noble:

Although what you suggest is certainly possible, Chase could only collect from TV contracts and on-circuit advertisers (Rolex, Heineken, etc.), the individual promoters would not be paying which is a hefty sum. Furthermore, COTA could apply the "profit" narrative: I will pay for the USGP, you pay us for the use of our premises for the other 15 rounds!

:-) :-) :-)"

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4. Posted by Carlh94, 24/03/2020 1:56

"Good old Chase, twirling his moronic moustache and speaking fluent American ‘finance-speak’. The man hasn’t a clue and, in common with his fellow Liberty Media cronies, has lost his grip on reality, flailing about trying to drum up Liberty’s stock. Chase, it’s going to be quite some time before life returns to a new normal and Liberty will be on life support.
While on the topic, Ross, you are a smart Manchester chap with your feet on the ground and unhampered by an Ivy League education paid for by Daddy, rather than ability, as is the American Way. Get yourself out, lad, grab what you can while there’s something left to grab, pull on the Hunters and back to the trout stream!"

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5. Posted by Max Noble, 24/03/2020 0:47

"Given (as I noted in a comment on the Lewis news item) the “Profit vs. People” narrative playing out in the US, Chase could be right on message with grabbing the dollars and waving from the life boats to the drowning.

I’m no sure of the FIA rules require each race to be at a different circuit...? As America opens up again and “only” leaves the old, weak, infirm, and at risk to die (preferably out of site in a disused quarry) Chase could hold sixteen rounds of racing at the Circuit of the Americas, one each weekend for several months.

It’s a win-win-win situation. More dollars coming into F1, races still held, more racing in America in a suitable time zone, and a predictable sixteen rounds no matter how many die all around! What’s not to love?

When Chase announces it next week remember you read it on PitPass first :-)"

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6. Posted by Steve W, 23/03/2020 22:37

"Will there be enough of an economy left after all of this?"

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7. Posted by alvarezh3, 23/03/2020 21:41

"Sounds like an announcement to keep Liberty Media's stock prices from falling any further, at least in the immediate future.

I am with you Sennapod, it seems as it will be around your specified time that that the goberments will start to allow big agglomeration of people (most specifically big sporting events), although they could probably start earlier by allowing them without spectators.

I tend to believe that if FOM can get to run half the scheduled races they could congratulate themselves. Hope they can do better, surely hope I am wrong!"

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8. Posted by Sennapod, 23/03/2020 21:11

"I just can’t see this happening. My gut feel (esp given the further UK restrictions announced tonight) is that restrictions on people’s movement won’t be fully lifted until the Aug/Sept. there might be time for 1or 2 races before the traditional season-end"

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