FORMULA ONE has announced a return to Turkey as it completes a 17-race season in the Middle East.
Istanbul Park will host its first Grand Prix in nine years on November 15 before a double-header in Bahrain and season-closer in Abu Dhabi.
Istanbul Park has been named on the F1 2020 calendarCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit will host the 17th and final race of the seasonCredit: AP:Associated Press
On Tuesday, F1 announced how it will cap off a wholly unique 2020 calendar with four final races.
Entering the schedule is Istanbul Park, located an hour east of Turkey’s bustling capital and based in a secluded location that will help the sport maintain its stringent coronavirus protocols.
After March’s cancelled GP as the pandemic began, Bahrain will stage races on November 29 and December 6, before the season is completed in Abu Dhabi a week later.
It means the year will end in typically gruelling fashion for team staff with three race weekends in a row.
The announcement confirms the 2020 campaign will take place exclusively in Europe and the Middle East, with no excursions to the Americas or Far East.
October races at Germany’s Nurburgring and iconic Italian track Imola will complete the European leg before the trip across the Bosporus.
Disagreements over government funding saw Istanbul Park slip off the calendar eight years ago.
Ailing Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel may be cursing his luck at the announcement, with Turkey the stage of his infamous crash with Red Bull teammate Mark Webber in 2010.
Of the current grid, Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen have a victory apiece at Istanbul Park with Vettel winning its most recent race back in 2011.
Last year’s Bahrain and Abu Dhabi GPs were both won by Mercedes ace Hamilton, who leads the current championship rankings by 37 points.
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Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
