2020 Vietnamese Grand Prix
| 2020 Vietnamese Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race TBC of TBD[a] in the 2020 Formula One World Championship | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | 5 April 2020 | ||
| Official name | Formula 1 VinFast Vietnam Grand Prix 2020 | ||
| Location | Hanoi Street Circuit, Hanoi, Vietnam | ||
| Course | Temporary street circuit | ||
| Course length | 5.607 km (3.484 mi) | ||
| Scheduled distance | 55 laps, 308.385 km (191.621 mi) | ||
The 2020 Vietnamese Grand Prix (formally known as the Formula 1 VinFast Vietnam Grand Prix 2020)[2] is a Formula One motor race that is due to be held in Hanoi, Vietnam. The race is to be contested at the Hanoi Street Circuit as part of the 2020 Formula One World Championship.[3] The race was to be the first running of the Vietnamese Grand Prix and one of two new events to join the Formula One calendar in 2020, the other being the revived Dutch Grand Prix. The race was indefinitely postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
Background[edit]
Preparations[edit]
Plans for a race in Vietnam were first explored by former Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone, who ultimately abandoned the idea after the failure of the Korean and Indian Grands Prix.[5] The idea of a race in Vietnam was revived after Liberty Media purchased the commercial rights to the sport from CVC Capital Partners in January 2017. The Vietnamese Grand Prix was announced in November 2018, becoming the first new race under Liberty Media's ownership.[6]
The Vietnamese Grand Prix was officially confirmed as the fourth round of twenty-two races of the 2020 Formula One World Championship at an FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris in December 2019.[3] However, the postponement of the Chinese Grand Prix in February 2020 meant that the Vietnamese race became the third round of the championship.[1] The race is due to take place at the twenty-three turn, 5.607 km (3.484 mi) Hanoi Street Circuit in Hanoi, Vietnam on 5 April 2020.[3] Construction of the circuit was completed in February 2020.[7]
[edit]
The early season was affected by the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, which led to concerns being raised about the Vietnamese Grand Prix when several people tested positive for the disease in villages close to Hanoi.[8] The Chinese Grand Prix was postponed as part of the sport's initial response,[9] and Ross Brawn—the sport's managing director—stated that the sport was working with Vietnamese authorities to monitor the outbreak and that he expected the race to go ahead.[8] This view was shared by current Formula One Group CEO Chase Carey.[7] The Australian Grand Prix was cancelled after the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic, prompting the sport to reassess several rounds of the championship. Both the Vietnamese and Bahrain Grands Prix were indefinitely postponed.[4]
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Coronavirus fears force the postponement of the F1 Grand Prix in China in April". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
- ^ "Vietnam". formula1.com. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ a b c "Record-breaking 22 race F1 calendar set for 2020". formula1.com. 29 August 2019. Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
- ^ a b "Bahrain and Vietnam Grands Prix postponed". formula1.com. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
- ^ Coch, Mat (9 October 2018). "F1 could add Vietnam to 2020 calendar". speedcafe.com. Speedcafe. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ "Vietnam to host Formula 1 Grand Prix from 2020". formula1.com. Formula One World Championship Limited. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
- ^ a b Herrero, Daniel (27 February 2020). "New images released upon completion of Vietnam GP circuit". speedcafe.com. Speedcafe. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- ^ a b Coch, Mat (17 February 2020). "Vietnamese Grand Prix expected to go ahead". speedcafe.com. Speedcafe. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ "Coronavirus fears force the postponement of the F1 Grand Prix in China in April". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
External links[edit]
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FIA Formula One World Championship 2020 season |
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Vietnamese Grand Prix | Next race: 2021 Vietnamese Grand Prix |
