Mugello considered by F1 as follow-up event after Monza

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Formula 1 could reportedly add Mugello to this summer's European schedule, with the Ferrari-owned venue slotted in just behind the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

Reports from Italy suggest that several fly-away races might throw in the towel and scrap their event, with F1 therefore considering adding another European venue to its list of races on the continent.

Hockenheim is open to holding a round of the F1 world championship, but Mugello could prove an interesting alternative as it would allow teams to remain in Italy after Monza on September 6 and head straight to the Tuscany track located just 300 km south-east of the Temple of Speed.

F1 could add more European races and Sochi double-header

Furthermore, according to F1's statistics, the race after this year's Italian Grand Prix is marked in Ferrari's history as the Scuderia's 1000th Grand Prix, a milestone that would serve as a great promotional backdrop for the House of Maranello, Italy and the Mugello circuit.

Ferrari is commemorating this year its 1000th F1 world championship race by naming its 2020 contender the SF1000.

The 5.2km scenic track nestled in the Tuscan hills has never hosted an F1 Grand Prix but did stage an in-season F1 test back in 2012.

The facility which holds an FIA Grade 1 licence is also the home of MotoGP's Italian Grand Prix and has often served as the venue of choice for Ferrari's annual end-of-season Finali Mondiali weekend.

Speaking to the BBC recently, F1 managing director Ross Brawn admitted that the various stages of evolution of the coronavirus outside of Europe significantly complicated the task of projecting races beyond the summer.

"There is still quite a lot of volatility in the situation in different countries, so until that stabilises and we can see where the situation is, it's difficult to commit," Brawn said.

"Brazil is in the middle of a very difficult period. Mexico is in the middle of a very difficult period. But we're optimistic that those situations will improve and therefore we will be able to build a programme around that."

Azerbaijan, Singapore and Japan are expected to fall to the wayside while questions remain over Russia, China and Vietnam.

However, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi are still expected to bookend Formula 1's disrupted 2020 season.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.