F1 boss Chase Carey insists the final decision on the 2020 race calendar rests with them and not the teams.
The 2020 Formula One season has been decimated by coronavirus with the first seven races postponed and no racing until June at the earliest.
F1 boss Chase Carey said this year’s final race calendar will be finalised by the boardCredit: Splash
F1 chiefs were publicly criticised for trying to stage the Australian Grand Prix as normal on March 15 amid worldwide coronavirus panic.
Six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was among the most vocal as he arrived in Melbourne days before the season opener was due to take place and said it was “shocking” that he was there.
Race officials were forced to scrap the Melbourne event at the last minute while races in Bahrain, Vietnam and China were also called off.
F1 this week took the decision to scrap the Dutch, Spanish and Monaco races in May as well but are hopeful of rescheduling some of these later in the year after the pandemic.
And boss Carey says the final race calendar will be made in consultation with the teams, but the final decision will remain with F1 and the FIA.
Formula 1 has been suspended until June at the earliest with seven races axedCredit: Getty Images
Carey said: “During this exceptional time and following several race postponements and the World Motorsport Council’s unanimous decision to move the Formula 1 Summer break forward to March and April, we and the FIA discussed with the teams the need for extra flexibility to accommodate a rescheduled season once the COVID-19 situation improves.
“At the meeting there was full support for the plans to reschedule as many of the postponed races as possible as soon as it is safe to do so.
“Formula 1 and the FIA will now work to finalise a revised 2020 calendar and will consult with the teams, but as agreed at the meeting the revised calendar will not require their formal approval.
“This will give us the necessary flexibility to agree revised timings with affected race promoters and to be ready to start racing at the right moment.”
F1 bosses also confirmed that a Bahrain Virtual Grand Prix will take place on Sunday 22 March featuring drivers and e-sports stars.
Lewis Hamilton urges people to wash their hands to avoid catching contagious coronavirus  
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
