The FIA has confirmed the changes with the F1 summer shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic as it has been brought forward from August to March/April.
What was being reported for few days has now been confirmed with the FIA releasing a statement regarding bringing forward the F1 summer shutdown to March and April as opposed to the usual July and August date due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The holiday has been extended from 14 to 21 days as well which means the F1 teams have to set out 21 consecutive days to shut all their work in the factories related to the car development. This move was supported unanimously by everyone involved.
With much of the calendar in a fix, F1 had to bring out the changes and by freeing up the months of July/August, it can now slot races in those weeks while they also intend to run the 2020 F1 season until December as opposed to the November finish.
So far, only four F1 races has been affected with Australia, Bahrain, Vietnam and China, but with the pandemic increasing, races in Netherlands, Spain, Monaco and Azerbaijan could be in danger too. It is unclear as to when the 2020 F1 season will kick-off.
The full statement from FIA on F1 summer shutdown goes:
“In light of the global impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus currently affecting the organisation of FIA Formula One World Championship events, the World Motor Sport Council has approved a change to the 2020 FIA Formula 1 Sporting Regulations, moving the summer shutdown period from July and August to March and April and extending it from 14 to 21 days.
“All competitors must therefore observe a shutdown period of 21 consecutive days during the months of March and/or April. The change was supported unanimously by both the F1 Strategy Group and F1 Commission.”
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