Formula 1 has confirmed dates for the first eight races of a revised calendar for the 2020 season, beginning with a double-header Austrian Grand Prix in July.

The opening eight events form the European leg of the campaign, that features two triple-headers through the summer months.

Austria’s Red Bull Ring will host races on July 5 & 12 before heading to Hungary a week later. There will be brief break until the action resumes at Silverstone with back-to-back races, swiftly followed by a Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.

Another hiatus takes place before the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa on August 30, with an Italian Grand Prix at Monza the week afterwards remaining in tradition.

F1 also revealed that all events would be supported by the Formula 2 and Formula 3 classes.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the season being delayed up until now, as F1 hopes to operate in an environment that ensures the health and safety of all team and media personnel.

A expanded schedule is due to be released in the coming weeks that outlines the championship’s plans to have 15-18 races in a truncated campaign by December.

“In the past weeks we have been working tirelessly with all our partners, the FIA and the teams to create a revised opening 2020 calendar allowing us to restart racing in the safest possible way,” F1 CEO and chairman Chase Carey said.

“We are pleased to be able to set out our opening eight race calendar today and look forward to publishing our full calendar in the coming weeks.

“I want to thank every promoter and partner for their support and ongoing commitment to Formula 1.

“While we currently expect the season to commence without fans at our races we hope that over the coming months the situation will allow us to welcome them back once it is safe to do, but we know the return of Formula 1 will be a welcome boost to sports fans around the world.”

All races will be run behind closed doors to keep in line with health guidelines proposed by European governments. F1 hopes to welcome fans back at some point later in the year.