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So far, Formula 1 officials have pushed their plans for 23 Grand Prix on this year’s schedule, but on Saturday 22 confirmed the best the series can deliver.
Even taking into account the loss of an estimated 23rd race when Formula 1 completes the revised 22-race schedule it unveiled, it will still be a record-breaking calendar surpassing the 21 Grands Prix in 2016, 2018 and 2019 .
As part of the changes, the dates of the Grand Prix in Turkey, Mexico and Brazil have been postponed by one week each.
It was a flowing year for the planners as events in Canada, Singapore, Japan, Australia and China were canceled, resulting in Turkey, Emilia Romagna and Portugal playing, while Austria was hosting two Grands Prix.
Crucially, all three countries – remain on the UK’s red list – which require all travelers returning from these areas to be quarantined for 10 days in a government-approved hotel. The majority of the team and broadcast crew are based in the UK and hotel quarantine is immutable for Formula 1, but the latest calendar suggests a compromise.
The postponement of the Turkish race by one week to October 10th gives Formula 1 additional leeway before the UK government’s next review of its travel list, which is due to be released on September 16th. Then Formula 1 is fine. If this is not the case, it can fall back on a backup round in Western Europe.
Postponing Mexico and Brazil for a week to November 7th and 14th respectively means that the Circuit of the Americas Round of the United States is now a standalone event on October 24th. Staff will travel direct to and from Austin, Texas.
A race yet to be confirmed (TBC on schedule) remains on schedule and officially started on November 21st, which is expected to take Formula 1 to the Losail Circuit in Qatar for the first time. This event has not yet been ratified due to ongoing commercial discussions with race organizers.
A Mexico-Brazil-Qatar triple header in consecutive weeks means Formula 1 staff can travel direct from South America to the tiny Gulf state, avoiding hotel quarantine in the UK for the last two events in the region a week later Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi on December 5th and 12th, respectively.
Formula 1 remains subject to travel restrictions and government approval, but has repeatedly highlighted the protocols in force. Traveling staff performed 56,000 Covid-19 tests with just 38 positive cases this year. Most of the staff have already received both doses of the vaccine.
“We are very pleased to be able to announce the updates of the 2021 calendar after extensive discussions with the organizers and the national authorities,” said Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. “The pandemic continues to challenge the season, but we have shown that we can adapt and we are confident that we can deliver 22 record-breaking races this year despite a global pandemic.
“I would like to thank the promoters in Brazil, Mexico and Turkey for their patience and flexibility and we will be sharing the details of the final addition shortly.”
The revised remaining F1 calendar 2021
- 3rd-5th September – Dutch Grand Prix
- 10.-12. September – Italian Grand Prix
- 24.-26. September – Russian Grand Prix
- 8-10 October – Turkish Grand Prix
- 22.-24. October – United States Grand Prix
- 5th-7th November – Mexican Grand Prix
- 12-14 November – Brazilian Grand Prix
- 19.-21. November TBC
- 3rd-5th December – Saudi Arabia Grand Prix
- 10.-12. December – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
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