Without the unexpected coronavirus delay, where would the 2020 Formula 1 season be heading into what is now set to be the season-opening race weekend?
The coronavirus pandemic stopped the 2020 Formula 1 season before it even got started, and that led to several postponements or cancellations.
The season was set to begin with the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, but those plans were put on hold after a McLaren employee tested positive for the virus.
The plans for the next nine races were then put on hold as well, as plans to hold some of them without fans in attendance were scrapped.
But imagine a 2020 Formula 1 season without the threat of COVID-19. Had the season gone according to plan thus far, where would we be right now?
What if the 10 races that were postponed or removed from the calendar had taken place as planned?
Here is how we think things would have played out.
Australian Grand Prix – Sunday, March 15
Lewis Hamilton, who regularly takes pole in Australia but rarely wins the race, does both in 2020. His quest to become Formula 1’s second ever seven-time champion begins with a flag to flag victory in which he takes full advantage of Mercedes’ new dual-axis steering system.
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Bahrain Grand Prix – Sunday, March 22
A dominant performance in 2019 fell shy of the victory for Charles Leclerc and Ferrari due to a late mechanical failure. But in 2020, Leclerc is able to finish the job in a car that maintains full power throughout the entirety of the event.
Vietnamese Grand Prix – Sunday, April 5
Valtteri Bottas gets himself into the 2020 win column after back-to-back runner-up finishes to open up the season, vaulting himself to the top of the driver standings by holding off teammate Lewis Hamilton to win the inaugural race on the new Hanoi Street Circuit.
Chinese Grand Prix – Sunday, April 19
Lewis Hamilton retakes the points lead at Shanghai International Circuit as Valtteri Bottas settles for another second place finish. Ferrari show pace early in the weekend but struggle during the race, finishing behind both Mercedes drivers and both Red Bull Racing drivers.
Dutch Grand Prix – Sunday, May 3
Max Verstappen tames the high banks of the newly renovated Circuit Zandvoort to secure his first win earlier than he has ever done in his career, winning in front of the home crowd in the Netherlands’ first race since 1985. Teammate Alexander Albon secures his first career podium finish.
Spanish Grand Prix – Sunday, May 10
Just a few years ago, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was known for resulting in different winners. From 2007 to 2016, no driver won the race more than once. Lewis Hamilton changed that in 2017, and he dominates again in 2020, winning for the fourth year in a row and fifth time in the last seven years.
Monaco Grand Prix – Sunday, May 24
Continuing the trend of home race winners, Charles Leclerc qualifies on pole and never looks back during the race. This dominance comes one year after he was forced to start toward the back due to a disastrous qualifying session, only to get too aggressive in front of the home crowd and crash.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Sunday, June 7
Valtteri Bottas picks up where he left off in 2019 (and would have left off in 2018 if not for a late flat tire) with another win at Baku City Circuit. This win, however, is not as straightforward as it was in 2019, as he is forced to hold off a faster Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen following a late restart.
Canadian Grand Prix – Sunday, June 14
One year after crossing the finish line in first place but being scored in second due to a controversial penalty, Sebastian Vettel gets redemption with his second official win at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in the last three seasons and the third of his career.
French Grand Prix – Sunday, June 28
Circuit Paul Ricard provides exactly what it has provided since returning to the schedule in 2018: a dominant effort by Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes. He leaves teammate Valtteri Bottas more than 20 seconds behind, with an additional 10 seconds separating Bottas from the rest of the pack, led by Verstappen.
Let’s hope the 2020 Formula 1 season can get underway as planned this weekend and that there will be no other postponements or cancellations to affect it throughout the remainder of the year. The season is scheduled to begin this Sunday, July 5 at the Red Bull Ring with the Austrian Grand Prix. This race is set to be broadcast live on ESPN2 beginning at 9:10 a.m. ET.