F1 set to scrap US, Mexican and Brazilian races

Formula 1 won't be racing on the North and South American continents this year, with the sport's rounds scheduled in Austin, Mexico City and Sao Paulo wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Canadian Grand Prix has also been dropped after local promoters said that it was not financially viable to hold the race without paying fans in the grandstands.

Liberty Media had been hoping to salvage perhaps the US and Mexican races, scheduled respectively on October 23 and 30. However the continued rise of coronavirus cases in the two countries has forced F1 to cancel the events, while Brazil's challenging sanitary situation has dealt the final blow to Interlagos.

• Spanish GP 'will go ahead', Nurburgring return mooted

The possibility of F1 racing in late October in Montreal was contemplated, but despite Canada reining in the pandemic, local restrictions and travel constraints have sealed the fate of the North American race that was initially scheduled to take place in June.

So far F1 has confirmed ten races in 2020, with Russia on September 27 closing out the summer stint. But three additional rounds - Nürburgring, Portimao and Imola - should be confirmed in short order by F1.

The three events would boost the number of rounds to 13 for 2020, with F1 working hard to add two Asian rounds - Vietnam and perhaps Malaysia - in November while a double-header in Bahrain and a final round in Abu Dhabi are almost sure to bookend the year.

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