This archive report was first published on 12 June 2020.
Formula One's season has been dealt another blow as the Singapore, Japan, and Azerbaijan grands prix have been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision was made on June 12, 2020, as the virus continues to spread globally, causing logistical problems for the organisers.
The Australian Grand Prix was the first to be cancelled in March, and since then, several other grands prix have been axed, including those in Monaco, France, and the Netherlands.
The Singapore F1, a night race around the city's floodlit waterfront, was a highlight of the calendar, but organisers were unable to start construction of the Marina Bay Street Circuit due to curbs imposed to fight the virus.
Other challenges included a ban on mass gatherings, which would have made it impossible for large groups of spectators to watch the outdoor event, and travel restrictions that would have prevented tourists from coming to the city-state for the race.
Formula One said in a statement, 'In Singapore and Azerbaijan, the long lead times required to construct street circuits made hosting the events during a period of uncertainty impossible.'
Similarly, in Japan, 'ongoing travel restrictions also led to the decision not to proceed with the race.'
The season is now set to be the shortest campaign since 2009, with a revised schedule featuring races in Austria, Hungary, Britain, Spain, Italy, and Belgium, among others.
