With a strange 2020 Formula 1 season behind us, we all hoped the 2021 season would be a little more normal. However new circuit announcements, cancellations and rescheduling has already hit the 2021 season calendar.
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Last week we were hit with the news that the Australian GP would be postponed, and it wouldn’t hold the season opening race for the second year in a row.
Now, we have a rescheduled date for Australia, along with news that the Chinese Grand Prix will also be postponed.
Starting with the Australian race, the FIA have announced the rescheduled date, which is now currently 19-21 November 2021. This places it just after the Brazilian race at Interlagos, and ahead of the new Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
To make a slot available for Australia, the Brazilian Grand Prix has moved forward one week, and will now be a part of a triple-header of races along with the US and Mexican races.
The two Middle-Eastern races have also been pushed back by 1 week to allow Australia a slot.
It will be strange seeing the Australian race so late in the Formula 1 season, but it is definitely good to have it back after a year out.
With Australia postponed to late November, Bahrain will step in to take the slot of the season opening Formula 1 race in 2021.
Following the Bahrain GP would normally be the Chinese GP. However this race has also been postponed. There currently isn’t a new date in place for the Chinese GP, so we will have to see whether it makes its Formula 1 return later in the year or not.
Currently, the FIA have said that they don’t want to hold more than 23 races this year. This means that if China do want to hold a Grand Prix at some point in 2021, it will be at the expense of another venue.
Another race will have to be cancelled for China to be able to take it’s place.
2021 CALENDAR UPDATE
🇧🇭 Season starts in Bahrain 26-28 Mar
🇦🇺 Australia moves to 19-21 Nov
🇮🇹 Imola returns 16-18 Apr; China discussions ongoingDates of Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi races all change#F1 pic.twitter.com/4QoP0gKKsA
— Formula 1 (@F1) January 12, 2021
Instead of flying out to China, Formula 1 will instead head to Imola. A second year of Formula 1 racing in Imola will take place on the 18th April 2021.
This is good news for Formula 1 fans, as Imola proved to be a hit in 2020, and marked a return to F1 racing for Imola since 2006. Obviously Imola has a huge history with Formula 1, so to see a classic circuit return is always welcome.
F1’s President and CEO Stefano Domenicali had the following to say about the rescheduling that has taken place, “It is great news that we have already been able to agree a rescheduled date for the Australian Grand Prix in November and are continuing to work with our Chinese colleagues to find a solution to race there in 2021 if something changes.”
“We are very excited to announce that Imola will return for the 2021 season and know our fans will be looking forward to the return of Formula 1 after the winter break and our revised season opener in Bahrain.”
Below is the current F1 calendar as it stands after the latest announcement. With the on-going pandemic this could all still change.
Rich is the founder, F1 car setup creator and content writer for SimRacingSetups. With over a decade of experience as a graphic designer, marketing director, competitive sim racer and avid motorsport fan, Rich founded SimRacingSetup.com to share his passion and knowledge of sim racing and Formula 1 with other sim racers. Regularly writes for sim racing website SimRaceReviews.com
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