Liberty Media and the FIA are currently busy putting together a modified Formula 1 calendar. The organization of the Azerbaijani Grand Prix is interested, but only if the threat of a cancellation has disappeared.
In March, the Formula 1 season would actually have started already, with the Australian Grand Prix as the startshot. That race was only cancelled at the very last moment, after an employee of McLaren tested positive on COVID-19 and the team withdrew from the race.
The organisation of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix wants to avoid this situation at all costs. "We have agreed with F1 that we will only confirm a date on the calendar if the threat of another cancellation is behind us," said Arif Rahimov, director of the Baku City Circuit to Forbes.
The race through the streets of Baku has therefore become uncertain in 2020. The organisation has already announced that they will need ten to twelve weeks to set up the event and that it must also be done before mid-October, because then the weather will get worse.
Grand Prix with potentially many visitors
"If F1 can meet our conditions, then I believe we can have another great Grand Prix, with no major negative impact on ticket sales". Rahimov believes that when the coronavirus is over, many people would like to go outside and attend events. He thinks that this will also attract many visitors from other countries.
However, the organizer is also prepared for another scenario: "There may be a social aftershock, where people will avoid public gatherings out of fear. Moreover, because of the blow to the economy, households will have less to spend on entertainment". Whether we will be able to enjoy another spectacular race in Baku this year will therefore remain to be seen.
