The 2020 F1 season is fast approaching its opening round. Darry Worthington takes a look at the team line-ups and the rule changes for this season.
Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sport
2020 Schedule
There have been three major changes to the schedule with the German Grand Prix dropping off the circuit due to financial constraints. While purest will be bitterly disappointed to see a calendar with no stops at Hockenheim or Nurmeburg on it, their anger may be offset somewhat by the return of the Dutch Grand Prix and a redeveloped Zandvoort circuit.
The FIA will also venture int new territory this year having awarded an F1 race to Vietnam. This will one of the biggest sporting events the country has ever held. It also offers F1 enthusiasts on a limited budget a great chance to see a race in real life as the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi is very easy on the pocket.
Australian Grand Prix
Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit
Sunday 15 March
Bahrain Grand Prix
Bahrain International Circuit
Sunday 22 March
Vietnamese Grand Prix
Hanoi Street Circuit
Sunday 5 April
Chinese Grand Prix
Shanghai International Circuit
Sunday 19 April
Dutch Grand Prix
Circuit Park Zandvoort
Sunday 3 May
Spanish Grand Prix
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
Sunday 10 May
Monaco Grand Prix
Circuit de Monaco
Sunday 24 May
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Baku City Circuit
Sunday 7 June
Canadian Grand Prix
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Sunday 14 June
French Grand Prix
Circuit Paul Rickard
Sunday 28 June
Austrian Grand Prix
Red Bull Ring
Sunday 5 July
British Grand Prix
Silverstone
Sunday 19 July
Hungarian Grand Prix
Hungaroring
Sunday 2 August
Belgian Grand Prix
Spa-Francorchamps
Sunday 30 August
Italian Grand Prix
Autodromo National Monza
Sunday 6 September
Singapore Grand Prix
Marina Bay Street Circuit
Sunday 20 September
Russian Grand Prix
Sochi Autodrom
Sunday 27 September
United States Grand Prix
Circuit of the Americas
Sunday 25 October
Mexican Grand Prix
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Sunday 1 November
Brazillian Grand Prix
Autodromo Carlos Pace
Sunday 15 November
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Yas Marina Circuit
Sunday 25 November
Rule Changes
Return to the Chequered Flag
After last year’s balls-up at the Japanese Grand Prix, where the lighting panel that signalled the end of the race went off a lap too soon, the FIA has opted to return to using the chequered flag to show the end of a race.
Goodbye to Mid-Season Testing
This year will see the end of mid-season testing. It’s not a bad shout as a lot of penalties have been dished out following design and engine tweaks that came about after mid-season testing stints.
Fins Up
No, Steven Speilberg hasn’t branched out into designing F1 cars but we will see a lot of shark fins on the circuit this year with the implementation of a fin near the rear-end of the car where the engine is housed. This has come about so as to make it easier for fans to distinguish between different drivers as drivers numbers will be placed on the fin.
Metal Missing
Cars will now contain less metal on their front wings with the hope being that this will prevent rear-wheel punctures when a car collides into another from behind.
Drivers In Control Off the Line
Fewer electronics will be involved at the start of the Grand Prix with Drivers now controlling 90% of the car’s torque with the clutch pedal.
Written by Darry Worthington for Hollywoodbets
