FOM (Liberty Media) and the FIA already has a draft calendar for the 2020 Formula 1 World Championship, with the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao (Portugal) as a reserve race, this circuit has been included on the 2020 calendar.

The current target for FOM and the FIA is to attempt to run between 15 and 18 races in 2020, and the recent grade 1 upgrade of the circuit in Portimao is part of this plan. TJ13 reported on this possibility some weeks ago (READ THAT STORY HERE) and now it appears that we could see a surprise inclusion of the returned Portuguese Grand Prix to the F1 calendar, possibly at the expense of the British Grand Prix.

For some time now, it has been public knowledge that the plan is to start with two Grand Prix events at the Red Bull Ring – one on 5th July and the other on 12th – and then move onto Silverstone.

TJ13 exclusively leaked a memo sent out by the FIA to teams explaining the plan last weekend. It is thought from the memo that the 2nd F1 race in Austria would be held midweek on either Wednesday or Thursday following the Sunday race. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY ON THIS LEAKED INFO

Autosport last night reported on this story a few days later, confirming ours, albeit with their expectation that the 2nd race in Austria (and Silverstone) on the following weekend and not midweek.

TJ13 understands that in order to firm up the doubleheader at Silverstone after Austria, F1 officials have been in direct communication with UK government in order to work with the coming 14 day quarantine period required for international flights into Britain.  READ MORE ON THAT HERE

But should there become an impasse disallowing the British Grand Prix doubleheader to take place, it is understood that the circuit in Portimao has been earmarked to take over that slot. Portugal is thought to be a perfect alternative, where the Covid 19 outbreak has not adversely affected the population as badly as the UK.

If the British race cannot go ahead, it will be the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve that will take its place, hosting the two races that will follow the Red Bull Ring on July 26th and August 2nd.

The season will be followed in Hockenheim or Barcelona, depending on the conditions, since Spain is also considering the possibility of implementing a fourteen-day quarantine.

Hungaroring will have its race on August 23rd, followed by Spa-Francorchamps and Monza, which appear in this calendar.

After the European season, Formula 1 will go to Eurasia, with races in Baku and Sochi, ending in the Middle East with races in Bahrain on December 6th and Abu Dhabi on December 13th.

The staggering of Asian and American races has yet to be defined and is still dependent on the evolution of the OVID-19 pandemic.

Provisional 2020 Formula 1 calendar during Covid 19

4-5 July Red Bull Ring
11-12 July Red Bull Ring
25-26 July Silverstone (or Portimao)
1-2 August Silverstone (or Portimao)
8-9 August Hockenheim or Barcelona
22-23 August Hungaroring
29-30 August Spa
5-6 September Monza
19 -20 September Baku
26-27 September Sochi
5-6 December Bahrain
12-13 December Yas Marina

Vettel McLaren update, drive now goes to Ricciardo – Vettel Hamilton team mates?

Earlier this morning, we reported on Ralf Bach’s article in Germany’s Autobild and F1-Insider on the deal struck between Mclaren and Sebastian Vettel – That piece from this morning is below this updated article…

It has since been learned…. READ MORE ON THIS STORY

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