2021 Season: the Calendar Changes Again
The 2021 championship keeps taking hits, but Formula 1 is ready to react. The most recent negotiations with promoters and national authorities have resulted in a few changes to the calendar, but no fewer than 22 rounds have been confirmed – with one yet to be announced.
After the cancellation of the Japanese Grand Prix, initially scheduled for the second weekend in October, the Formula 1 2021 calendar has been revised again. Just this morning the FIA confirmed the latest changes that will affect the later stages of the 2021 season – some of which due to the “red list” affecting travelling personnel from the UK, which had already forced the organisers to postpone the Turkish Grand Prix once.
The Dutch, Italian and Russian Grands Prix dates have been confirmed, but the Turkish Grand Prix, initially postponed to the first weekend in October, will be moved to the second weekend instead, effectively replacing Suzuka. The United States Grand Prix will also go ahead as scheduled, on the weekend of the 22-24th October – while the Mexican Grand Prix will be postponed by a week, taking the slot previously occupied by the Brazilian Grand Prix. Formula 1 will race at Interlagos a week later, over the weekend of the 12-14th November.
The revisioned calendar shows a free slot for the weekend following the Brazilian Grand Prix, which paddock rumours suggest will be occupied by Mugello, for a welcome return to the Tuscan hills, or perhaps by Qatar, for a Grand Prix at the Losail International Circuit, already a host to the World Motorcycle Championship. The Thousand and One Nights finale of the season has also been confirmed, for a double header in the desert at the Saudi Arabia and UAE Grand Prix.
Stefano Domenicali said he was very satisfied with the results of the negotiations with the national authorities and promoters. “The pandemic continues to present the season with challenges,” said the Formula 1 President and CEO at a press conference this morning, “but we have proven we can adapt and we are confident we can deliver a record breaking 22 races this year despite a global pandemic.”
All in all, we have to agree with Domenicali – this is not a bad result indeed, and it will allow the title battle to continue undisturbed for the rest of the season.
Author & Editor: Sara Esposito
