Chase Carey is still open to idea of alternative circuits and racing in January

Although nothing is certain yet, the Formula 1 season 2020 is slowly beginning to take shape in the minds of the organizers. That the championship starts on 5 July in Austria seems to be a certainty by now and the puzzle for the next six months has partly been laid as well.

"We have two primary challenges - identifying locations where we can hold races, and determining how to transport all the necessary parties and their equipment to that location," said Chase Carey of Liberty Media in a phone meeting with investors on Wall Street.

To make things easier for Formula 1 in that respect, a number of European circuits that were not on the original calendar have already signed up to host a Grand Prix this year. "We are in talks with all our promoters, as well as some circuits that are not currently on our 2020 calendar, to make sure we are looking at all the options."

Closing the season in 2021, right?

Circuits that have already made themselves available are Imola and Portimao, but Formula 1 doesn't want to stay in Europe for too long either. The intention is that until the beginning of September there will only be racing in Europe, after which the F1 Circus will go all over the world. Carey sticks to the plan to organize 15 to 18 races this season.

To make that possible, he is even open to finishing the current season in 2021, although he would prefer to finish the championship before Christmas. The teams and drivers will then face a very short winter. The 2021 season will traditionally start in March.