End of August Spa F1 race could be cancelled (2nd Update)

Spa

UPDATE (GMM) Spa-Francorchamps boss Vanessa Maes has denied that the Belgian GP will definitely not take place in 2020.

Race promoter Spa Grand Prix announced recently that because all mass events in Belgium have been banned, the Formula 1 race cannot go ahead as scheduled.

Indeed, a provisional F1 'corona calendar' began doing the rounds this week, and circuits including Spa, Monza and Zandvoort were not included.

But Maes told La Derniere Heure newspaper: "We are still in talks with FOM and the government about organizing a grand prix behind closed doors."

04/16/20 (GMM) It is "possible" that the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit will not host a grand prix at all in 2020.

While nine races have already fallen by the wayside because of coronavirus, only Melbourne and Monaco have actually been cancelled outright.

But Belgium could now join them.

Promoter Spa Grand Prix has announced that because all mass events in Belgium have been banned until August 31, the Spa race – scheduled for August 30 – cannot go ahead as planned.

"As a result, we are suspending all ticket sales for the 2020 edition of our grand prix today," a statement read.

But Vanessa Maes, boss of the Spa promoter, admitted that full cancellation rather than mere postponement cannot be ruled out.

"Nothing is impossible," she told Belga news agency.

"All scenarios – postponement, racing behind closed doors, cancellation – will be studied. No one can say today what the situation will be in 4-5 months," Maes added.

"The absolute priority is the health of the Belgians and the spectators who come to Spa-Francorchamps. That's why we support the decision of the government.

"The news is of course a big disappointment but organizing a sporting event during this period seems futile," she continued.

"From Thursday, we and the government will be examining the different possible and impossible scenarios. We must be given time to do our work and check with the various experts and also Liberty Media as to what the most desirable course is," she said.

04/15/20 The fate of this year’s Belgian Formula One Grand Prix was thrown into doubt on Wednesday after the country extended a ban on mass gatherings until the end of August due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The race at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit is scheduled for Aug. 30.

Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes told a news conference on Wednesday her government and economic and medical experts would meet next week to organize a gradual return towards normality from early May.

"The Circuit will await the next communication from the National Security Council," the Spa circuit website (www.spa-francorchamps.be) said in a statement noting the extension to Aug. 31.

Stijn de Boever, the race’s commercial director, told motorsport.com that “over the next couple of days we will ask a lot of questions and consider our options.

“You know the options as well, a different date or a closed event. Even without spectators we would have a lot of people on site to organize the event. What is a mass event? Does that mean 500, 3,000 or 5,000 people?