Damon Mcknight
The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the F1 calendar, causing many races to be cancelled or postponed. In 2020, F1 aimed to hold 15 races, but only managed to arrange 17 races in 12 countries. To ensure this number of races, F1 decided to hold multiple races at the same venue wherever possible. Austria was one of the first countries to express interest in holding F1 races, and so the Styrian Grand Prix was added to the calendar, with the Austrian Grand Prix following a week later.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for two F1 races in Austria | The Turkish Grand Prix was postponed due to rising COVID-19 cases in Turkey, and travel restrictions. |
| When | July 2020 |
| Location | Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Styria, Austria |
| Number of races in 2020 | 17 races in 12 countries |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Number of people per team | 80 |
| Names of the two races | Austrian Grand Prix and Styrian Grand Prix |
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What You'll Learn
F1's 2020 season was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic
The 2020 F1 season was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the championship facing a range of challenges and disruptions. The season started late, and many races outside of Europe had to be cancelled. The Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, which was scheduled to be the first race of the season, was called off after a McLaren mechanic tested positive for the virus. The pandemic also affected the number of races held, with F1 aiming for 15-18 races in 2020, compared to the usual 20-plus race season.
In total, 17 races were held in 12 countries, including three same-venue double-headers, with different formats to add variety. The Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, hosted the first two races, with the Austrian Grand Prix and the Styrian Grand Prix held on back-to-back weekends. This was due to the Turkish Grand Prix being postponed because of rising COVID-19 cases and travel restrictions. The French Grand Prix was moved forward, and the Styrian Grand Prix was added before the Austrian Grand Prix.
The races that did take place were subject to stringent safety protocols, with no spectators allowed, socially distanced interviews, and reduced staff numbers. Despite these challenges, the 2020 season was considered a success, with 17 races completed, although some felt the season was diminished due to the unusual circumstances. The pandemic continued to impact the F1 calendar in 2021, with further cancellations and disruptions, such as the Canadian Grand Prix being replaced by a race in Istanbul.
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The Turkish Grand Prix was postponed due to travel restrictions
The postponement of the Turkish Grand Prix had a significant impact on the Formula One racing season. It resulted in two races being held in Austria, with the Styrian Grand Prix taking place one week before the Austrian Grand Prix at the same venue. This created a unique situation in the history of the sport, as it marked the first time that two races were held at the same track on back-to-back weekends.
The decision to postpone the Turkish Grand Prix was made in conjunction with the FIA, the governing body that controls when and where Formula One races take place. The postponement was also influenced by the fact that seven of F1's ten teams are headquartered in the UK, which had imposed travel restrictions on Turkey.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the 2020 and 2021 Formula One seasons cannot be overstated. Many races outside of Europe had to be canceled or postponed, and those that went ahead were subject to stringent safety protocols, including the absence of spectators and social distancing measures during interviews. The pandemic also affected the financial aspect of the sport, with F1's revenues dropping by almost $900 million in 2020.
While the Turkish Grand Prix was eventually re-added to the 2021 calendar, replacing the canceled Singapore Grand Prix, the initial postponement due to travel restrictions had a significant impact on the season. It led to a double-header in Austria and created a unique situation in the sport's history, showcasing the challenges and unpredictability of organizing a global racing championship during a pandemic.
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Austria expressed interest in hosting two races
Austria was one of the first countries to express interest in holding F1 races. The country's health ministry gave the green light for two races to be held without spectators amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The races were held in the village of Spielberg, about 200 kilometres southwest of the capital, Vienna.
The Austrian Grand Prix and the Styrian Grand Prix were held at the same track on back-to-back weekends in 2020, making history in the world of Formula One. The races were held at the Red Bull Ring, which is located in Styria, a state in southeast Austria. The Styrian Grand Prix was named after the state in which the circuit is located.
The Austrian Grand Prix was originally held in Zeltweg, about 70 kilometres west of Graz, the capital of Styria. Since 1969, the race has taken place in neighbouring Spielberg. The track was first called the Österreichring and later the A-1 Ring and the Red Bull Ring after its owners, Red Bull GmbH.
In 2020, the start of the F1 season was delayed due to the pandemic, and many races outside of Europe had to be cancelled. The Turkish Grand Prix was postponed due to travel restrictions, and the French Grand Prix was moved forward by a week. The Styrian Grand Prix was added to the calendar, taking place a week before the Austrian Grand Prix.
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The Styrian Grand Prix was added before the Austrian Grand Prix
The Styrian Grand Prix was added to the F1 calendar in 2020, with the Austrian Grand Prix taking place the following week. The Red Bull Ring in Spielberg played host to both races, marking the first time in the sport's history that the same venue and circuit layout hosted back-to-back World Championship races.
The addition of the Styrian Grand Prix was a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused significant disruption to the F1 calendar. The Australian Grand Prix was cancelled after a McLaren mechanic tested positive for the virus, and the Turkish Grand Prix was postponed due to rising COVID infections in the country. As the Red Bull Ring in Austria was scheduled to host the Austrian Grand Prix the weekend after the postponed Turkish race, it made logistical sense to hold the Turkish Grand Prix at the same venue, with the race renamed the Styrian Grand Prix.
The Styrian Grand Prix was named for Styria, the state of Austria in which the Red Bull Ring is located. The back-to-back races in Austria marked the first time since 1995 that a country had hosted successive races in the same season, when Japan hosted the Pacific and Japanese Grands Prix.
The 4.3km circuit features only 10 corners, with a short lap time that leaves little room for error. This often leads to close qualifying sessions and fast-paced racing. The 2021 Styrian Grand Prix was Rounds 8 and 9 of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, with the Austrian Grand Prix following a week later as Round 10.
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F1 has held multiple races at the same venue
The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the world of sports, and Formula 1 was no exception. The 2020 F1 season was delayed, and many races outside of Europe had to be cancelled. The pandemic also caused countries to close their borders, making it difficult for F1 to host races in multiple countries.
In 2020, F1 aimed to hold 15 races and ultimately managed to arrange 17 races in 12 countries. To achieve this, F1 held multiple races at the same venue. Austria was one of the first countries to express interest in hosting F1 races, and the country's health ministry gave the green light for two races to be held in July 2020, which were the Austrian Grand Prix and the Styrian Grand Prix. These races were held at the Red Bull Ring, with each race assigned a different name to keep them distinct.
Holding multiple races at the same venue was a strategy employed by F1 to ensure a sufficient number of races could be held during the pandemic. This approach was also applied to other venues, such as Silverstone in the UK, where F1 hosted the British Grand Prix and the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix on back-to-back weekends.
While the idea of holding a sprint race in Austria has been proposed, it seems unlikely to happen. However, the concept of multiple races at the same venue has already been implemented by F1 during the pandemic to maintain the calendar of races.
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