PARIS – Formula One officials confirmed Friday that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions, it will not be possible for the series to host events in the United States, Canada, Mexico or Brazil this year.
In a news release on the official Formula One site, officials says the decision was made “due to the fluid nature of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, local restrictions and the importance of keeping communities and our colleagues safe.”
“We want to pay tribute to our incredible partners in the Americas and look forward to being back with them next season when they will once again be able to thrill millions of fans around the world,” said Chase Carey, chairman and CEO of Formula One.
Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, was originally scheduled to host the United States Grand Prix on Oct. 25. Autódromo José Carlos Pace in São Paulo, Brazil, had been slated to host the Brazilian Grand Prix on Nov. 15. The Canadian Grand Prix was scheduled for June 14 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec, and the Mexican Grand Prix was slated for Nov. 1 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, Mexico.
A statement regarding the 2020 F1 United States Grand Prix: pic.twitter.com/QnSXk6wLll
— Circuit of The Americas (@COTA) July 24, 2020
With the official cancellation of four Grands Prix, Formula One officials also announced new events at Portugal’s Algarve Int’l Circuit, Italy’s Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari and Germany’s Nurburgring.