Ross Brawn admitted that circuits such as Imola (Italy), Portimão (Portugal) and Hockenheim (Germany) could host events later this year, promising a final decision before the end of July.
Ross Brawn said: “There are a number of good European tracks where we could add another one or two races on to make sure we have a comprehensive season. We’re not going to declare it yet, as it’s still a work in progress.”
According to press reports, the possible dates for the race to come to Portugal are believed to be 27 September and 4 October.
In an online vote launched on Twitter by the official Formula 1 account, the Algarve was voted as the place where fans would be most excited to see an F1 race take place in 2020. With 42.9 percent of the total vote, the region beat off competition from Imola with 30.9 percent, Mugello with 12.3 percent and other by 7.6 percent from a total of 84,295 votes.
Meanwhile, the Mayor of Portimão, Isilda Gomes, has said that holding a Formula One World Championship in the Algarve would be “an excellent promotion”, not only for the region, but for Portugal as a whole.
“Obviously it would be an excellent moment for Portugal, but we have to be careful because we are only talking in the field of hypotheses, because there is still nothing concrete”, warned the mayor.
In the opinion of Isilda Gomes, “it is premature to talk about the realisation of an F1 race” at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, even though those responsible for the decision consider the Algarve circuit as an alternative to other regions.
“They are good indications, but we are still in the realms of hypotheses”, she said.
For the mayor, the staging of a Grand Prix in the municipality of Portimão, “would be excellent for everyone, due to the projection that the event has worldwide, being a great engine in the dynamisation of the region and the country”, even with the restrictions imposed on sporting events due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Bearing in mind that the whole event moves thousands of people, I think it would be excellent for the country, even if the existing conditions were maintained due to the Covid-19 pandemic”, she concluded.
The start of the F1 World Championship was scheduled for 15 March, in Australia, but the race was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In total, 13 of the 22 races of the season have been cancelled or postponed, but championship officials hope to have a calendar of 15 to 18 races by the end of the year.
The last Portuguese GP was held at Estoril in 1996.