Turkish Grand Prix returns to 2021 calendar

Jamie Woodhouse
2020 Turkish Grand Prix grid

2020 Turkish Grand Prix grid PA

Its first return to the 2021 schedule was brief, but the Turkish Grand Prix has now been confirmed for October.

Istanbul Park made its comeback on the Formula 1 calendar in 2020, a race which proved one of the highlights of the season as a stunning recovery drive from Lewis Hamilton saw him seal the Drivers’ Championship with a win.

And with the 2021 Canadian Grand Prix cancelled, there was plenty of excitement when the Turkish Grand Prix was named as its replacement, only for that plan to be ditched soon after.

Although the Turkish GP could not go ahead at that time due to the pandemic, promoters remained keen to reschedule the race, and with the cancellation of the Singapore Grand Prix, that opened the door again for Istanbul.

And so we will see a 2021 Turkish Grand Prix after all.  It will serve as Round 16 of the season, with the race taking place on October 3.

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“After discussions with other promoters we are confident that we will be able to travel to the following race under our strict safety protocols,” read a statement from Formula 1.

“The Formula 1 community will continue to travel this season with stringent safety measures that has allowed us to travel safely this season.”

Formula 1 has been forced into a great deal of flexibility in the race calendars for 2020 and 2021, and so the series’ CEO and president Stefano Domenicali is delighted to have found a new slot for the Turkish Grand Prix.

“We are delighted to be coming back to Turkey to Intercity Istanbul Park circuit. We hope to see another fantastic race again in one of the best tracks in the world,” he told the Formula 1 website.

“We want to thank the Intercity Istanbul Park management and Mr. Vural Ak for his personal efforts to make this event to happen. We have shown that we can continue to adapt and there is huge interest in our sport and the hope from many locations to have a Grand Prix.

“We have had very good conversations with all the other promoters since the start of the year and continue to work closely with them during this period.”

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