As Formula 1 bosses continue to put together a calendar for the second half of the 2020 season, those in control of the Hockenheimring in Germany insist they need an answer sooner rather than later to whether they will host a Grand Prix this season.
The first eight races of the year have been announced, with two races at the Red Bull Ring in Austria kicking off the season at the beginning of July. A race at the Hungaroring in Hungary follows before a double header at Silverstone, a trip to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain and visits to Spa-Francorchamps and the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Belgium and Italy respectively.
Races in Singapore, Azerbaijan and Japan have all been cancelled for 2020, joining the races in Australia, the Netherlands, Monaco and France, while doubts continue to surround a few of the other races. These include the races the Circuit of the Americas in the United States and the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Brazil.
The Hockenheimring lost its place on the calendar in 2020 due to funding issues, but whilst there were doubts about the Silverstone races, the German track was touted as a possible replacement venue.
But with so much doubt surrounding the rest of the calendar, the track could still hold a race, possibly two, in 2020, but they need to know soon to whether they will see Formula 1 track action, else they will need to make their own decisions to possibly reject the opportunity.
“We cannot keep our calendar on standby for several weeks waiting for a date for the GP,” said track CEOs John Teske and Jochen Nerpel in a statement through the German agency Sid. “[We’re] very happy to accept a feasible request.
“We cannot maintain any unconfirmed date for Formula 1 for several weeks.”
