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Racing Point driver Lance Stroll steers his car down the pit lane during qualifying at the Canadian Grand Prix on June 8, 2019, in Montreal.Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press

MONTREAL The Canadian Grand Prix has been cancelled this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Formula One said in a statement Friday that it decided to hold the rest of its 2020 season in Europe after the Russian Grand Prix on Sept. 27.

Three races have been added to this year’s schedule, including one at Germany’s Nurburgring circuit on Oct. 11, the date that had previously been set for the event in Montreal.

The Portimao Grand Prix in Portugal and the Imola Grand Prix will come next on the Formula One calendar, meaning that no races will take place in the Americas this year.

“We are disappointed that we won’t be racing in Canada this year and know our fans will miss the excitement the race in Montreal always provides,” Chase Carey, the Formula One chairman and CEO, said in a statement.

“We can’t wait to be back next year and we know all our fans will be excited when we return.”

With the three added events, there will be 13 races during this year’s Formula One season.

Formula One typically tries to hold 15 to 18 events and aims to finish the season in December with races in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.

The last time the Canadian Grand Prix was cancelled was in 2009. At the time, the event promoter and Formula One couldn’t come to an agreement over the rights to show the race.

The decision means Canada’s two biggest annual auto races won’t be held this year.

Earlier this year, IndyCar cancelled the Honda Indy Toronto, originally scheduled for July.

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