F1 European calendar now set for early June release

Formula 1 is now set to announce its European calendar plans in the first week of June, GPFans understands.

F1 had initially hoped to release confirmed dates of the first seven or eight races across Europe early next week.

Those plans, however, have been thrown into chaos by the British government's decision to impose a 14-day quarantine period on all arrivals into the UK.

While no official announcement on this has yet been communicated by Downing Street, and despite high-level lobbying by F1, the strong belief is there will be no exemptions for any sport.

This means the planned round/s at Silverstone over the second half of July/early August will be cancelled.

F1 is at present now in discussions with a number of other European venues as it seeks to fill the void that will be created by Silverstone's absence.

What is known is that the calendar will start with a double-header in Austria on July 5 and 12, and this is at least what F1 and the teams are working towards, while the Belgian and Italian Grands Prix are scheduled to run on their existing dates of August 30 and September 6.

That leaves six blank weekends between the Austrian and Belgian rounds, with the hope a further three or potentially four races will take place.

As has emerged, Hockenheim officials are in discussions about the prospect of filling in on one weekend, while it is expected Spain and Hungary will also host races.

The calendar beyond the European conclusion in early September, in Asia and the Americas, is still being formulated due to the fluctuating restrictions in place in the various countries involved.

At present, the plan is to finish the season in the Middle East with grands prix in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi on December 6 and 13.

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