Formula E and the FIA have announced a two-month suspension of the 2019/2020 Formula E season due to the global outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The statement from Formula E and the FIA reads: “The decision, made in coordination with the relevant local authorities to temporarily freeze races held in highly-populated cities, was taken as the most responsible course of action, due to the continued spread of coronavirus and the World Health Organisation officially declaring COVID-19 a pandemic. With the well-being of staff, spectators and the entire championship workforce being the number one priority, precautionary measures put in place will restrict races from running during a set timeframe.”
The following races have been postponed: Sanya E-Prix (originally scheduled for March 21), Rome E-Prix (April 4), Paris E-Prix (April 18), Seoul E-Prix (May 3) and the Jakarta E-Prix (June 6).
Although all Formula E racing has been suspended during March and April, it’s still possible that the current season of Formula E will begin again in May, subject to a stabilisation of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The final races of the season are currently scheduled for the summer; the Berlin E-Prix (June 21), the New York E-Prix (July 11) and the double header London E-Prix (July 25-26).
Formula E has signalled its intention to publish a revised Formula E calendar in the near future as it attempts to fit in the postponed races. This could see the 2019/2020 season stretch into August. Replacement (and double-header) rounds have also been mooted, as well as races being run without spectators.