Vietnam dropped from 2021 F1 calendar, Saudi Arabia added

Formula One is planning a document 23 races in 2021, together with one in Saudi Arabia, however has dropped its inaugural race in Vietnam from the schedule.

The April slot for the Vietnamese Grand Prix was listed as “TBC” on the calendar printed on Tuesday with no rationalization and no point out of Vietnam. The race was scheduled to debut this yr however deserted amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The different 22 races embody the first-ever Saudi Grand Prix, set for Nov. 28 within the Red Sea metropolis of Jiddah, and the return of quite a few races which had been canceled in the course of the pandemic.

“We have proven that we can safely travel and operate our races and our promoters increasingly recognize the need to move forward and manage the virus. In fact, many hosts actually want to use our event as a platform to show the world they are moving forward,” F1 chairman Chase Carey stated.

The calendar is essentially a retread of the unique 2020 schedule, which means no return for the varied one-off races at European tracks similar to Mugello, Portimao and Imola, which had been added as replacements and had been typically widespread with drivers and followers.

The venue for the Brazilian Grand Prix is listed as Sao Paulo “subject to contract,” indicating a deliberate transfer from Sao Paulo’s established Interlagos observe to a brand new circuit in Rio de Janeiro is not going to happen. Champion Lewis Hamilton has voiced concern that an space of forest shall be reduce all the way down to construct the Rio venue.

The Dutch Grand Prix returns for the primary time since 1985, after being canceled this yr, and is scheduled for Sept. 5.

The season begins with the Australian Grand Prix on March 28. The race in Melbourne was canceled hours earlier than Friday follow was to start this yr after a positive coronavirus test for a crew member. The finale stays in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 5.

The 23-race calendar is the longest in F1 historical past. The 2020 calendar initially had 22 races.