F1: Nurburgring, Portimao and Imola added to F1 2020 season calendar

Formula One is set to announce three new circuits to make up the much changed 2020 Formula One World Championship.

Imola, Nurburgring and Portimao have all been agreed to take slots in the updated season calendar, with racing in Asia and the Americas looking increasingly unlikely due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

It is understood that Liberty Media are still hoping to complete 15-18 races, but with the current situation in both North and South America unstable due to the ongoing Pandemic, it is been decided that Formula One will not participate in Canada, USA, Mexico or Brazil.

The move, although disappointing for race fans, may be to the benefit of teams and Formula One as they keep staff and travel costs limited with a more central European based season before a planned double header in Bahrain, and the usual season-closer in Abu Dhabi.

The Nurburgring will return to Formula One since 2013, after its removal before the 2015 season due to funding issues. The race in 2013 saw Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel taking the victory ahead of the Lotus-Renault pair of Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean.

The provisional date of October 11th has been slated for the new German Grand Prix, and with many expecting Hockenheim to get the nod to host a race this season, fans will be happy to see another ‘classic’ circuit back on the calendar.

The Algarve Circuit in Portimao will be making its first appearance in Formula One, and signals Portugal’s first Grand Prix since the infamous 1997 European Grand Prix in Jerez.

The track was suggested for inclusion in 2010, but never agreed terms with Formula One so will be making its debut in 2020. A provisional date of October 23-25 has been suggested, and no doubt with a brand new circuit added to the mix will give Liberty Media a good idea about whether it is a viable race weekend host moving forward.

Imola in San Marino is set to reappear in Formula One for the first time since 2006 when Michael Schumacher held off a charge from Fernando Alonso to win his seventh San Marino Grand Prix in front of the adoring Tifosi.

The circuit in the small Italian Republic has long been in the hearts of many fans, who will no doubt be happy to see its return. Imola has been provisionally slated to host the race on the weekend of November 1st 2020.

Imola would be the third race of the season held in Italy after Monza and Mugello, but the added bonus of seeing Formula One return to some of its more classical circuits over the increase of street tracks and ‘location’ races more than enough reason to hype up viewing figures in a move that may work well for Liberty Media.

“We are pleased that we continue to make strong progress in finalising our plans for the 2020 season and are excited to welcome Nurburgring, Portimao and Imola to the revised calendar,”

“We want to thank the promoters, the teams, and the FIA for their full support in our efforts to bring our fans exciting racing this season during an unprecedented time.

Chase Carey, Chairman and CEO of Formula 1

The three announced Grand Prix bring the confirmed tally to 13 races, but with three expected in the Middle-East to close the season, along with quiet suggestions that perhaps Vietnam and even Malaysia could get added pending the ongoing situation, it will comfortably cross the line for Grand Prix that need to be completed to validate a championship season.