F1 has ‘number of options’ to replace Melbourne

Michelle Foster
2020 Australian Grand Prix

2020 Australian Grand Prix

Formula 1 has a “number of options” to replace the 2021 Australian Grand Prix, which on Tuesday was officially cancelled.

The ongoing pandemic meant the Australian Grand Prix, F1’s traditional season-opener, was initially postponed to November before Tuesday’s announcement that the race had been cancelled.

“We’re deeply disappointed that for a second consecutive year, both MotoGP and Formula One fans won’t be able to see the world’s best riders and drivers compete at the wonderful Phillip Island and Albert Park Grand Prix Circuits,” said GP Corporation chairman Paul Little.

“We appreciate the challenge Australia faces with current international travel restrictions and the importance of vaccinations.”

Australia has a mandatory 14-day quarantine period for all people coming into the country. That is not possible for F1 given that the teams have just 10 days after the Brazilian GP to set up in Melbourne.

Formula 1 had touted the idea of a biosphere in order to allow the sport’s personnel in without needing to quarantine.

Those talks failed as Australia’s Covid-19 numbers rose and the country’s second most-populous state went into lockdown.

Despite the race being cancelled, Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali is hoping the calendar will remain at 23 races, revealing there are options to replace the Australian GP.

“While it is disappointing we won’t be racing in Australia this season, we are confident we can deliver a 23 race season in 2021,” he said.

“We have a number of options to take forward to replace the place left vacant by the Australian Grand Prix.

“We will be working through the details of those options in the coming weeks and will provide further updates once those discussions are concluded.”

Driver consultation and F1 simulations formed Albert Park changes.

Those options include a Chinese Grand Prix, the Shanghai event the first cancelled even before the 2021 season got underway.

There is also a possibility of Bahrain hosting two grands prix as it did last season.

The Sakhir GP took place on Bahrain’s outer oval before the sport raced on the traditional Formula 1 track for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

That could see a change of the date for round 21, making up the first race of a triple-header with Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi to close out the season.

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