The Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix to be held without spectators
The Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix will be able to take place without spectators on August 30th at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, despite the ban on mass events in the country until August 31st due to the COVID-19 pandemic, local authorities announced on Friday.
Elio Di Rupo, Minister-President of Wallonia (one of the three Belgian regions), indicated that the Grand Prix could "take place without spectators, as well as all the necessary pre-training".
This measure is only valid "provided that strict social distancing and hygiene measures are strictly followed", stated in a press release.
Now that the Belgian authorities have given their approval, Spa Grand Prix, the event organizer, will have to negotiate with Liberty Media, in charge of the global promotion of F1, to cover the revenues that will be lost due to the absence of spectators, which according to an estimate by the organization would reach 165,000 tickets sold.
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Although no resumption date has been officially announced by the governing bodies of the top motorsport category, the plans foresee a return to the tracks in Austria, at the Spielberg circuit, without spectators on July 5th.
The coronavirus crisis has completely disrupted the F1 season, which was supposed to start on March 15th.
In total, the first ten Grand Prix races were canceled, such as the cases of Australia, Monaco, and France, or postponed to an indefinite date, as happened with the GPs of Bahrain, China, Vietnam, the Netherlands, Spain, Azerbaijan, and Canada. (D)