• Imola eligible to make return to F1 in 2020

• F1 putting backup plan for more races in place

• Imola is the scene of Ayrton Senna's death

Imola has boosted its chances of securing a shock return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2020.

F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn admits that a "contingency" is being put in place in case more current grand prix hosts are unable to reorganise their races amid the pandemic.

He said: "I think Bahrain and Abu Dhabi will be the backstop of the season from what we can see at the moment That gives us 10 races. We'll find at least five or six good races in the middle."

Grade 1 licence

La Gazzetta dello Sport reveals that former San Marino GP host Imola may be part of that contingency, as it has carried out works requested by the FIA for so-called Grade 1 licence approval.

It is a timely move, making the track in Italy eligible to host a race this year.

Imola president Uberto Selvatico Estense said: "With the homologation we are also in a position to be able to host a Formula 1 race, with our circuit meeting all the parameters required by the FIA. We hope that this dream can become a reality."

Imola is the circuit where Ayrton Senna lost his life in 1994.