French GP without spectators only way out after postponement Tour de France?
F1 News
- GPblog.com
Officially the French Grand Prix is still planned on June 28th and would be the official start of the Formula 1 season 2020. However, now that the Tour de France has also been postponed, it seems increasingly unlikely that the race can take place at Paul Ricard.
The ASO, the organiser of the Tour de France and motor sport events such as the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Dakar Rally, announced Wednesday that the cycling lap will be postponed. The cycling festival, which traditionally takes place in July, would start on Saturday 27 June. The new date for the start from Nice is 29 August.
Grand Prix of France without an audience?
This announcement comes shortly after President Macron's speech last Monday. It announced an extension of the lockdown until May 11, but also made it clear that normal life will not start on May 12. The ASO has previously indicated that a cycling tour without an audience is not an option for them and therefore chooses to postpone the event at an early stage.
The ASO did the same with the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is now scheduled for 19 and 20 September. This puts them ahead of Paul Ricard in the organisation of the Formula 1 race, which seems to be awaiting a final decision for the time being. However, it seems that, should there be racing at all on 28 June, it will be without an audience.