Portugal F1 Grand Prix final limited to 27,500 spectators

Although around 46,000 tickets for the Formula 1 Grand Prix final in Portimão were put on sale, the development of the Covid-19 pandemic in recent weeks means that this number is likely to be cut in half.

The suggestion was made by the administrator of the Algarve International Autodrome, Paulo Pinheiro in an interview with the news agency Lusa.
“We are still waiting for the final version of an expert report from the Portuguese Directorate-General of Health (DGS), but in principle the maximum limit should stand at around 27,500 places,” said Paulo Pinheiro.
Initially, 46,000 tickets were put on sale, but, given the development of the Covid-19 pandemic in the last few weeks, this number should be substantially reduced. Paulo Pinheiro said that the report from the DGS should be on his table by some time today (Monday).
“What’s certain is the free standing tickets will not, in principle, be allowed, so these places will be redistributed to other seated areas,” he said.
However, he also pointed out that there has been many cancellations from overseas fans or either can’t travel, or a scared of travelling to see the race.
This is the reason why, says Paulo Pinho, there will, in principle, be enough seat places in the grandstand and elsewhere to accommodate those Portuguese who have already bought tickets.
On Friday, the DGS said that it was reviewing the authorisation rules for the public at sports events, especially events such as the Grand Prix Formula 1 and MotoGP races, admitting that it will impose reductions on live participation.
Graça Freitas, the Director-General of Health, has already warned that the situation is “worrying” with is leading the DGS to act in a “very cautious manner” adding that the presence of spectators at sports events “is being weighed up depending on the area of Portugal in which the event is taking place” with a suitable reduction in numbers.