F1 turns to Hockenheimring contingency as British GP talks stall

Hockenheimring has emerged as the front-runner to hosts rounds three and four of the revised 2020 F1 calendar as British GP talks stall

Ollie Barstow

21 May 2020

F1 turns to Hockenheimring contingency as British GP talks stall

F1 bosses are closer towards making the third and fourth rounds of the heavily revised 2020 Formula 1 World Championship calendar take place at the Hockenheimring amid concerns Silverstone may be unable to clear its latest bureaucratic hurdle.

The British Grand Prix was expected to take up its original spot on the calendar with a July 19 date – followed potentially by another event a week later on July 26 – but has run into numerous difficulties relating to the coronavirus crisis.

On Tuesday, F1 released a statement saying the British GP won’t go ahead unless organisers can agree a workaround to an upcoming regulation that states people entering the country must quarantine for 14 days on arrival.

This would affect a vast majority of the paddock unless an agreement can be made with the UK government to give a dispensation, but it is unclear whether this is forthcoming with time running out to come to a formal decision.

It also comes at a time when British GP organisers and F1 bosses have been at loggerheads over a financial agreement that will be paid by the series in lieu of the money circuit owners would receive in ticket sales.

With British GP talks at a standstill, bosses are instead now hedging their bets with alternative options and have been discussing with German GP organisers to take Silverstone’s place.

Though the German GP wasn’t originally featured on the 2020 F1 calendar as part of a contract that allows it to host races every two years, it was expected to be included on the revised schedule. This is due to Germany’s recent push to ease restrictions and get some sporting fixtures back up and running, including the Bundesliga over the weekend.

With a new calendar due within the next few days, it means Hockenheimring could well be able to green light that particular date over Silverstone, putting pressure on British GP to not only to convince the government to ease quarantine restrictions for F1 members but also find another slot on the calendar altogether.