The French Grand Prix has been officially called off. The June 28th event was previously the first race on the 2020 F1 calendar which had not been cancelled.
The race at Paul Ricard has been in serious doubt since the French government extended its ban on public events until mid-July.The race promoter confirmed in a statement on Monday morning the restrictions made it “impossible” for their event to take place.
“Following the declarations of the French president to ban major events until at least the middle of July, to keep the Schengen area closed until further notice and the recent decisions announced by the French government to fight against the spread of the Covid-19 virus, the GIP Grand Prix de France [at] Le Castellet takes note of the impossibility to maintain the Formula 1 Grand Prix de France on June 28, 2020,” the promoter announced.
Formula 1 had looked into holding a race behind closed doors at the track. However the race’s managing director Eric Boullier said they were now concentrating on plans for next season.
“Given the evolution of the situation linked to the spread of the Covid-19 virus, the French Grand Prix takes note of the decisions announced by the French State making it impossible to maintain our event,” he said.
“The eyes of the GIP Grand Prix de France [at] Le Castellet are already turning towards the summer of 2021 in order to offer our spectators an even more unprecedented event at the heart of the Region Sud.”
Formula 1 chairman and CEO Chase Carey said: “We have been in close contact with the French promoter during this evolving situation and while it is disappointing for our fans and the F1 community that the French Grand Prix will not take place we fully support the decision taken by the French authorities in France and look forward to being back at Paul Ricard soon.”
This article will be updated.
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How the 2020 F1 calendar has changed
| Round | Event | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancelled, will not be rescheduled | |||
| Cancelled, seeking replacement date | |||
| Cancelled, seeking replacement date | |||
| Cancelled, seeking replacement date | |||
| Cancelled, seeking replacement date | |||
| Cancelled, seeking replacement date | |||
| Cancelled, will not be rescheduled | |||
| Cancelled, seeking replacement date | |||
| Cancelled, seeking replacement date | |||
| Cancelled, will not be rescheduled | |||
| 11 | Austrian Grand Prix | Jul 3-5 | |
| 12 | British Grand Prix | Jul 17-19 | |
| 13 | Hungarian Grand Prix | Jul 31-Aug 2 | |
| 14 | Belgian Grand Prix | Aug 28-30 | |
| 15 | Italian Grand Prix | Sep 4-6 | |
| 16 | Singapore Grand Prix | Sep 18-20 | |
| 17 | Russian Grand Prix | Sep 25-27 | |
| 18 | Japanese Grand Prix | Oct 9-11 | |
| 19 | United States Grand Prix | Oct 23-25 | |
| 20 | Mexican Grand Prix | Oct 30-Nov 1 | |
| 21 | Brazilian Grand Prix | Nov 13-15 | |
| 22 | Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | Nov 27-29 |
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hahostolze (@hahostolze)
27th April 2020, 9:15
Well, if the season does go ahead in some form, at least this won’t be a race we’ll miss. Can this be the end of F1’s weird infatuation with Paul Ricard, please?
Chaitanya
27th April 2020, 10:36
Even the french open tennis matches were postponed few days back so surprised it took this long to call off the GP
zomtec (@zomtec)
27th April 2020, 11:50
I am surprised that they concentrate on 2021 already as I would have expected that the southern location would have allowed for a later date in autumn maybe.
I guess if a F1 season is going to happen it would be a good idea to run the races only in Europe instead of travelling through thee whole world.
Jere (@jerejj)
27th April 2020, 12:51
@zomtec Indeed. The French GP at Circuit Paul Ricard could equally take place in October and even as deep into the Northern Hemisphere autumn as early-November and still be pleasantly warm.
Jere (@jerejj)
27th April 2020, 12:48
I’m surprised it took this long to take the French GP off from its scheduled date given that this was more or less a given since the day the ban on mass gatherings got extended until the middle of July.
John Richards (@legardforpresident)
27th April 2020, 16:06
If only boredom was a cure for the virus, then we’d just watch the French Grand Prix!
Broke1984 (@broke1984)
28th April 2020, 14:30
Well if there are 2 races on my cancellation Wishlist it is The French and Russian gp`s, 1 down 1 to go.