The 2020 Formula 1 season is pencilled in to begin at the start of July – with TWO British Grands Prix lined up to take place.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic the 2020 campaign will be a truncated one, with the French GP on Monday becoming the 10th race of the season to be postponed or cancelled.

The Austrian GP on July 5 is now the first event on a 12-race calendar, and F1 chiefs hope to begin the season at the Red Bull Ring on the scheduled date.

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Two weeks later Silverstone will host the British GP, though no fans will be allowed at Silverstone if the race goes ahead as planned.

“I am extremely disappointed to tell you that we are unable to stage this year’s British Grand Prix in front of the fans at Silverstone,” the track’s managing director Stuart Pringle wrote in a message published on Silverstone’s Twitter account.

Pringle continued: “We have left this difficult decision for as long as possible, but it is abundantly clear given the current conditions in the country and the Government requirements in place now and for the foreseeable future, that a grand prix under normal conditions is just not going to be possible.

“Our obligations to protect the health and safety of everyone involved in preparing and delivering the event, our volunteer marshals and race makers, and of course, you, the amazing fans, means that this is the best, safest and only decision we could make.

“We have consistently said that should we find ourselves in this position we will support Formula One as they seek to find alternative ways to enable F1 racing to take place this year.

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“Following this weekend’s news from the department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport we are now working with them on the viability of an event behind closed doors. Should this be possible, it will be of some small comfort for you to know that the 2020 Formula One Pirelli British Grand Prix will be available to watch live on Sky and Channel 4.”

Despite no fans being allowed at Silverstone, reports claim a SECOND British GP will be held at the world-famous track two weeks after the first race.

Possibly titled the ‘Silverstone Grand Prix’ or named after recently departed racing legend Sir Stirling Moss, the Daily Mail suggest the GP will take place on August 2 – the date currently in the diary for the Hungarian GP.

Britain has not held two Grands Prix since 1993, when the British GP took place at Silverstone and Donington hosted the European GP.

Source: TalkSport.com Motorsport