2020 F1 Season

The 2020 Formula One World Championship, marking the 71st running of the championship, was a season unlike any other, heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally scheduled to start in March, the season was postponed until July, reducing the number of races from 22 to 17. The pandemic led to several races being held without spectators and significant changes to the calendar, including multiple cancellations and the addition of new races. Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes dominated the season, with Hamilton securing his seventh Drivers’ Championship, equaling Michael Schumacher’s record. He also surpassed Schumacher’s record of 91 career wins. Mercedes clinched their seventh consecutive Constructors’ Championship, breaking Ferrari’s record from 1999 to 2004. The season was also notable for mid-season driver changes due to COVID-19, including George Russell substituting for Hamilton at Mercedes during the Sakhir Grand Prix.

Sebastian Vettel experienced a challenging final season with Ferrari, finishing thirteenth in the standings. The season saw McLaren achieve their best result since 2012, finishing third in the Constructors’ Championship. The calendar featured several unique aspects, such as two races each at the Red Bull Ring, Silverstone, and Bahrain International Circuit. The season also marked the return of the Nürburgring and Imola to the calendar, and the debut of the Algarve International Circuit in Portugal. The season concluded in December with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, capping off a year that tested the adaptability and resilience of the Formula One world.