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The hope that the pandemic will be less harsh with world vaccination is there, but F1 has a plan B if it has to change more races in 2021. In which circuits?
Formula 1 is assessing the possible impact of the latest travel restrictions to Turkey from the UK due to COVID-19, and the June 11 race is in serious jeopardy.
We remember that that weekend was going to be the Canadian GP, which was canceled and replaced by the appointment of Turkey in the 2021 calendar. And then, who would replace Turkey in turn?
The idea of Formula 1 is, given that there is little scope to organize another race on June 11 at a different circuit, bring the French GP one week forward (currently for June 27) and create space for two races in a row in the Red Bull Ring, as happened last year with the Styrian GP and Austrian GP.
With that, the short-term Formula 1 2021 calendar would look like this
- June 6 Azerbaijan GP (Baku has already refused to change the date with Turkey)
- June 20 French GP (one week ahead of schedule)
- June 27 Austrian or Styrian GP (first race at the Red Bull Ring)
- July 4 Austrian or Styrian GP (second race at the Red Bull Ring)
- July 18 Great Britain GP
Formula 1 did not rule out a second race at Silverstone (in 2020, the second was called 70th Anniversary GP), but the most obvious date, July 25 (a week after the British GP) would collide with the Formula E event in London.
After the summer break, everything seems clearer in the 2021 calendar until Russian GP. The Sochi appointment would be the sixteenth of the season, an already positive number considering the general conditions and complications related to logistics that affect those forced to travel internationally.
However, what comes after Russia is anyone’s guess. Despite the fact that the Russian Grand Prix is more than four months away (a period of time in which the global situation linked to the COVID-19), Formula 1 needs to plan its trips well in advance, and that is why for a few weeks in the offices of Liberty Media They have been working on the ‘B’ plans that are needed to avoid being caught off guard and being caught off guard by potential changes or cancellations.
Mugello, Nürburgring, 2021 Formula 1 aftermarket options
The current calendar foresees that after the Russian Grand Prix, Formula 1 will travel to Singapore and Japan, a complicated three week tour. But while the arrival in Sochi seems very obvious, the trips to Singapore and Japan pose a big question mark, as do the following trips to cross the pond outside of Europe: Austin, Mexico City and Sao Paulo, and the one to Australia the November 21.
However, there should be no surprises regarding the last double trip, that of Saudi Arabia (December 5) and Abu Dhabi (the following week).
The problem is mainly related to six grand prizes, which run from the first Sunday in October to the end of December (the aforementioned Singapore, Japan, United States, Mexico and Brazil).
If Formula 1 gave up those trips, there are not many alternatives. During the weekend of the recent Grand Prix in Portimao, there were those who mentioned the names of Mugello and Nurburgring (as alternative venues to Singapore and Suzuka), two tracks that already earned high praise last year. The only question is related to the weather, but in October there are few European alternatives with more reassuring weather forecasts …
Although be careful, because if the Turkish GP is not canceled, it is simply postponed until there are fewer travel restrictions from Great Britain, the Istanbul circuit may move to the second half of the year. And we remember that the Chinese GP he’s also on the waiting list …
Sakhir, as an alternative to Melbourne if there is no Australian GP 2021
The trip to America, on the other hand, is destined to remain a doubt for a few more months. Liberty Media is very interested in getting the United States back on the World Cup calendar, but if conditions in Mexico and Brazil make the trip inadvisable, a second race in the United States is not ruled out.
Rumors of a possible return to the Indianapolis circuit emerged in Portimao, but for now it is just an unconfirmed indiscretion.
Melbourne’s plan ‘B’ would instead include returning to Bahrain, a trip that would logistically fit with the final appointments in Jeddah and Yas Marina. In the case of a second test in Bahrain, it will take place on the outdoor version of the circuit, which debuted last year as the Sakhir Grand Prix.
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