Carey also indicated that with ongoing demand the schedule will expand beyond 21 races after 2020. Vietnam has already been confirmed for next April, while a deal has been agreed but not signed with Zandvoort for a May date. Read Also: F1 2020 calendar and test schedule confirmed Although he didn't name the venues, Carey also said that two deals have been agreed with circuits whose contracts finish this year, while confirming that F1 is still talking to the other tracks whose deals are up for renewal. Monza has already revealed that it is close to extending its contract, which leaves Silverstone, Hockenheim, Mexico and Barcelona, which is widely expected to be dropped. "We're in the process of finalising our 2020 race calendar," Carey said in a call with financial analysts. "We have agreements in principle on two renewals, and are actively engaged on three other renewals. "In addition we have already announced our race in Hanoi, and construction has begun on the track and facilities. "It will be a street course that is one of the most unique and challenging race tracks in the world, with 22 corners and a couple of long straightaways, the design of which we have been intimately involved with. I was in Hanoi a few weeks ago, and the excitement was palpable. "In addition to Hanoi, we also have an agreement in principle to add another new circuit to our calendar in 2020. We've not finalised the number of races in 2020, but we currently expect it to be 21, the same as 2019. "Obviously the math means that we will not be able to renew all our current races." Carey said that a lot of thought goes into shaping the calendar and thus deciding which races to include or leave out – and suggested that some "churn" or change was good for the sport. "We value our partnerships with our existing promoters, however we believe it is important for our fans and the growth of our sport and business that we both add exciting new locations, and manage a limited level of churn. "We're in the fortunate position of having more demand than supply, but recognise that we need to manage that dynamic in a thoughtful manner. "The factors we consider in deciding on a race include the quality of the track for great racing, and the location as one that captures the world's imagination; the level of fan and broader support and enthusiasm in the host city and country; the historic importance and future potential of the track and race; the global balance of our schedule; and a number of other factors. "We clearly have demand for more than 21 races in 2020, and do expect that number of races in a year will increased slightly after 2020. However we want to make sure that we're maximising the opportunities for the sport and fans, and not rush to decisions. "And we do believe that a limited expansion of the calendar, and churn, are important for creating a fresh and exciting dynamic for fans and for our ongoing growth."<doc-sep>In the wake of Max Verstappen’s success momentum has been building for the World Championship to return to the Netherlands for the first time since the 1985 event. Assen had also been in the frame to host a Dutch Grand Prix. A senior source told Motorsport.com in Baku last weekend that a contract has been now agreed between the F1 organisation and the Zandvoort promoter, but it has not yet been signed, as final details are still to be sorted out. If as expected Spain drops off the 2020 calendar it would allow Liberty to put Zandvoort into the early May slot, ahead of the Monaco GP. Barcelona is one of five races whose contracts expire after this season, along with Silverstone, Hockenheim, Monza and Mexico City. All face financial challenges, but the Spanish event is widely regarded as the most vulnerable after losing government support. The absence of Fernando Alonso will be an ongoing blow to ticket sales, unless the double World Champion makes a surprise return to the grid. The first part of the 2020 calendar is already congested, with the current run of four races in Australia, Bahrain, China and Azerbaijan set to be joined by an April race in Vietnam next year. Chase Carey is understood to have discussed possible solutions to the logjam in a meeting with team bosses in Baku. Zandvoort first hosted a World Championship race in 1952, and was a regular fixture on the calender until 1985, missing only four seasons during that time. In its later years it was held at the end of August, in the slot now occupied by Spa. However, in the early years the race was always run in May or June, and it was even the opening event of the season in 1962. The circuit will require a huge amount of work to bring its facilities up to standard, but once a Grand Prix is officially confirmed the plan is for it to be completed in time for a May date. The late Charlie Whiting inspected the venue last autumn on behalf of the FIA, but only from the perspective of the actual circuit, rather than paddock and spectator facilities. “I think there’s great potential there in Zandvoort,” he explained in October. “A few things need to be changed there, and there’s a great willingness to change. “But I think it’s rather too early to be talking about that. They’re coming back to us with some proposals, and we’ll see purely from a circuit point of view – nothing to do with the commercial elements of it – but from a circuit safety point of view, I think it could be done. “There would be a nice long straight good enough to use DRS well, and you’d maintain the historic elements of the circuit as well. I think it would be a very nice circuit. “I went to look at it from a safety point of view. Could the track be modified to cope with modern F1 cars? That’s all. Now how big the paddocks are, access, where you are going to put spectators, is not something that I would get involved in normally.” Asked recently about Zandvoort, where he raced in F3, Lewis Hamilton described the track as “awesome” - but conceded that passing was difficult. “It was an awesome track when I was younger. There wasn’t any overtaking there, so I don’t know how that will be different. “I don’t know if they’ve changed the track, but it was an incredible track to drive in F3, but as I said, you couldn’t overtake back then, but with DRS zones, I don’t know.” Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing with the F1 Show Photo by: WTCR<doc-sep>Carlos Sainz concedes the Spanish Grand Prix could be set to drop off next year’s Formula 1 race calendar but remains hopeful the long-term future of the event can be saved. Sainz became the sole Spaniard on the F1 grid this year after Fernando Alonso retired from the sport and fears over the future of his home race have grown in recent weeks following media reports that Zandvoort in the Netherlands would make a return to the F1 calendar at Circuit de Catalunya’s expense. While no official decisions on the 2020 F1 calendar have been released, the signals were not positive from Sainz as he admitted “it’s too late” to keep the race on next year’s schedule. “Obviously for me it would be a big loss on the calendar, but as far as I know, negotiations are still ongoing and nothing has been confirmed,” Sainz said. “I am just wishing that all the institutions are going to do their job and agree on something. I think it’s in their own benefit, of Barcelona, of Spain, of Formula 1. “I think the Spanish Grand Prix has a lot of history in Formula 1. I think this track has a lot of history in Formula 1, and it would be a big shame to lose it. “Hopefully we can agree on something, maybe not next year because it’s too late and hopefully yes, agree on something for the future.” When pressed on what kind of future he wants from the Spanish GP, Sainz believes the race should stay at the Barcelona track but would also welcome the return of Jerez – the circuit which hosted the Spanish round between 1986 and 1990 before briefly returning under the European GP title in 1994 and 1996. “What I would like the most is to keep Barcelona. I think this city, this track, deserves to be in Formula 1,” he said. “If you could add Jerez, then even better, because I would have two, and if you don’t keep Barcelona, I wouldn’t mind having Jerez. That’s pretty much my order of priorities if you ask me now. But this city and Spain deserves to have Barcelona on the F1 calendar.” The Spanish GP has been an ever-present race on the F1 calendar since 1986 while this year's round will mark the 60th running of the Grand Prix in F1 history.<doc-sep>
The Italian GP looks set to stay on the Formula 1 calendar beyond 2019 after organisers revealed a deal had been agreed in principle for a new five-year term. The Italian motorsport authority, the ACI, tweeted that a "broad agreement" on financial terms had been reached with F1 officials to extend the Monza race's deal until 2024. Monza, which is situated on the outskirts of Milan, has staged more F1 grands prix than any other venue since the world championship began in 1950 and is the home circuit of Ferrari. The ACI said it had given a mandate to its president to continue discussions in order to reach a signed deal 'as soon as possible'. Monza, which first opened in the 1920s, is one of five circuits on the 2019 calendar currently without a contract for next year. Silverstone is also among them and the British GP venue tweeted earlier on Tuesday that "talks are still progressing" with F1 chiefs, with the venue denying earlier reports that a deal had already been agreed. Spain, Germany and Mexico are the other venues in the final year of their present deals - however, speaking exclusively to Sky Sports in March, F1's managing director of motorsports Ross Brawn expressed confidence that the sport would retain its full complement of races. "Despite the pessimism, I'd be surprised if we lose any of the races we have," Brawn told Sky Sports F1. 3:44 Jump on board for a simulated look at Hanoi Street Circuit, which will host the inaugural Vietnam GP in 2020. Jump on board for a simulated look at Hanoi Street Circuit, which will host the inaugural Vietnam GP in 2020. What does the future hold for the F1 calendar? This year's schedule for 21 races equals the record first set in 2016, but F1's owners have consistently indicated they plan to add some further events to the sport's season. A new street race around Hanoi in Vietnam is already scheduled for 2020. A return to Zandvoort in Holland for the first time since 1985, meanwhile, has been heavily mooted. "We've got some exciting races coming up," said Brawn. "Vietnam I'm really excited about because we've been much more involved with the circuit design there. Incredibly enthusiastic, new culture and new place for people to visit. There are some other races on the horizon. "We want to have two or three more races in a season and we believe we can do that without over-stressing the teams, by refining their weekends." Get a first look at the layout for the Hanoi race in a special SkyPad Extra video with Sky F1's Anthony Davidson above! Sky Sports F1 is the home of live and exclusive F1. Find out more here to watch the 2019 season live