The Chinese Grand Prix could be in-line to hold two races later in the 2020 season, according to reports.

 

Currently the first eights rounds of the season have been confirmed to create a European phase.

 

But after that the schedule is still to be put together as F1 bosses wait to see how the situation plays out.

 

And according to a report by The Race, China has now joined Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Sochi as being among the venues under consideration to hold multiple races later in 2020 as Formula 1 aim to put together a calendar of at least 15 races to satisfy broadcasters and revenue targets.

Michael Latifi, who has already loaned Williams millions, is reportedly in ‘pole position’ to buy the beleaguered Formula 1 team.

 

Last month Williams announced it had commenced a formal sale process as well as the departure of title sponsor ROKiT.

 

 

Monaco Increase Management founder and CEO Salvatore Gandolfo has said plans for a new Spanish-based Formula 1 are “still alive”.

 

Back in October 2019, Monaco Increase Management released an official statement claiming they were in ‘advanced negotiations’ with other Formula 1 teams and engine suppliers as they looked to join the grid from 2021 and beyond.

 

Formula 1 themselves swiftly denied that the prospect of any new team joining the grid was close to happening and, over the course of the next few months, the global health crisis has put almost everything on hold.

 

The current Formula 1 regulations are now frozen until 2022, but the imminent arrival of a budget cap is still attracting some outside interest.

 

“The project is still alive,” Gandolfo said via Blick.

 

“But because of the current situation, it is impossible to plan the next steps.”

 

It appears, though, that the budget cap is going to have to come down even further, plus money being more evenly distributed, before the team that would have strong ties with Campos Racing follow up on again on their initial interest.

 

He added: “Then I would have to find around 20 million Euros more for a 100 million Euro budget. Only that is realistic and interesting as a business.”

 

Back when the rumours first circulated, Pascal Wehrlein and Alex Palou were the two names being touted as the team’s first driver line-up.

Reports say F1 has abandoned races in Singapore, Azerbaijan and Japan this year.

 

Also rumours continue to suggest Mugello and Hockenheim are in the frame as replacements.

Shame as I like all of those. But if we get another race at hockenheim like last year especially after being unceremoniously dumped from the initial calendar then...

Supposedly two at Hockenheim and Germany is looking ever more like outside event restrictions will be lifted by then. Yes please. Heidelberg is easy to get to for me!

 

Bahrain and UAE being like “we will happily host two each tho”. Nah fam. Youse shouldn’t host two between ya

A spokesperson from Portugal’s Portimao Circuit has confirmed the rumours that they are in talks with Formula 1 about hosting races in 2020.

 

With the number of cancelled races growing for 2020 after Azerbaijan, Singapore and Japan joined Australia, Netherlands, France and Monaco in calling off their events, Formula 1 has turned to venues not originally on the 2020 calendar.

 

Currently the season stands at eight races, made up of European locations, and F1 chiefs are open to extending the European phase to bulk up the schedule.

 

Imola, Hockenheim and Mugello are all under consideration, but in the past few days reports emerged in Portugal that the Portimao Circuit was also in contention to host perhaps a double-header in 2020 with a Portuguese Grand Prix and an Algarve Grand Prix.

 

Apparently discussions are underway about using Bahrain's 'almost oval' circuit for a proposed 2nd race. That would certainly be interesting

Sky Deutschland will hold the exclusive TV rights to Formula 1 in Germany from 2021, the sport has announced.

 

The company will replace RTL, who showed the races on free-to-air television from 1991 onwards but yesterday relinquished their rights from 2021 onwards.

 

Sky has pledged to show four races per season on free-to-air television themselves, but for every other race, viewers will have to pay a subscription fee to watch them.

So it seems Formula 1 Officials finally take a stance on the political issues of our time. Not only BLM, but others as well. I applaud them for doing that.

 

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article....rCoQDc1RY8.html

Lewis Hamilton says Bernie Ecclestone is "ignorant and uneducated" after the ex-Formula 1 boss made comments about racism.

 

Ecclestone, 89, told CNN that "in lots of cases, black people are more racist than what white people are".

 

Six-time world champion Hamilton, 35, said Ecclestone's remarks were "sad and disappointing".

 

He added they demonstrated "how far we as a society need to go before real equality can happen".

 

Hamilton, writing on Instagram, said: "Bernie is out of the sport and a different generation but this is exactly what is wrong.

 

"It makes complete sense to me now that nothing was said or done to make our sport more diverse or to address the racial abuse I received throughout my career.

 

"If someone who has run the sport for decades has such a lack of understanding of the deep-rooted issues we as black people deal with every day, how can we expect all the people who work under him to understand? It starts at the top.

 

"Now the time has come for change. I will not stop pushing to create an inclusive future for our sport with equal opportunity for all. To create a world that provides equal opportunity for minorities."

McLaren's Lando Norris says Formula 1 drivers have discussed 'taking a knee' at the season-opening Austrian Grand Prix this weekend.

 

The gesture is a symbol of support for the Black Lives Matter movement and the struggle for racial equality.

 

Britain's Norris, 20, said: "If we are going to do it, we should all do it as a grid.

 

"We will do whatever we can to show we care and respect everyone. We will do what is right when the time comes."

That black Mercedes though... Stunning.

I'm fairly confident of a Mercedes or Red Bull win this weekend. Ferrari could be playing a huge bluffing game, but I doubt it and think they'll be scrapping with Racing Point.

Glad to see some racing again this weekend, hopefully it'll be a cracking GP despite the circumstances.

A protest against Mercs dodgy steering, aka their latest attempt to destroy F1, has been launched by Red Bull

 

@1279096975254749184

@1279191526455853059

 

Oh.

 

What about the Mercedes 2.0 in Racing Point?

@1279371336931069962

RIP Ferrari

Nice to see Bottas finally play Hamilton at his own cheating game.

 

 

Looks like service as usual tho. I miss the times before the hybrid engines. They’ve honestly destroyed the sport