Formula One season planning to start on July 5 but opening races will be staged without spectators

Formula One is planning to start its 2020 season on July 5 in Austria after the French Grand Prix became the 10th race this year to be postponed or cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic. However, the first few races of the revised calendar, including the British Grand Prix, will be staged behind closed doors without fans. The decision to cancel the race at Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet on June 28 seemed increasingly unavoidable after French President Emmanuel Macron placed a ban on mass gatherings in the country until at least mid-July. But F1 chief Chase Carey is optimistic of beginning the campaign a week later at Austria's Red Bull Ring and holding between 15 and...