Vietnam has left the 2021 calendar as Interlagos secures a new deal



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The Vietnam Grand Prix in Hanoi will not be included in the 2021 Formula 1 calendar, ESPN has learned.

The inaugural race was canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a return to next year’s calendar was expected.

However, following the arrest of Hanoi People’s Committee chairman Nguyen Duc Chung, one of the main supporters of the race, he will not even be featured on the 2021 calendar and his long-term future remains in doubt.

The track east of Hanoi, which is partly a street circuit and partly permanent, was completed in February of this year and was set to be the first brand new circuit added to the calendar by F1 owners Liberty Media, which took control of sport in 2017.

Vietnam’s April 25 slot has been left “to be confirmed” in the provisional calendar for 2021, which will be released later today before being signed by the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council.

The Sepang circuit in Malaysia is considered as an alternative for Vietnam along with the Algarve circuit in Portugal, Imola in Italy and Istanbul Park in Turkey, all of which were used to complete the COVID-affected calendar of this mission. ‘year.

The 23-race calendar also includes a new night race in Saudi Arabia, confirmed last week.

F1 remains in Interlagos

After months of speculation, the Brazilian Grand Prix will continue at the Interlagos circuit in 2021 rather than moving to a new circuit in Rio de Janeiro.

The Rio de Janeiro track has yet to be built and the plans proved controversial as they would have resulted in the felling of thousands of trees in Camboata Forest.

ESPN understands that a five-year deal has been secured with a new promoter at Interlagos, meaning Tamas Rohonyi, who struck a deal with outgoing CEO Bernie Ecclestone in 2017 to organize three bids between 2018 and 2020 without paying a fee at F1, it is no longer. involved.

The 2021 schedule will otherwise run in a similar order to the races on the original 2020 calendar.

One change will see the Dutch circuit of Zandvoort, which last hosted a race in 1985, be part of a triple match between the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps and the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Another triple header will be formed by the Russian, Singapore and Japanese Grand Prix.

The United States Grand Prix will be held in Austin on 24 October.

The season kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on 21 March.

Formula 1 hopes to allow fans to return to the circuits after racing this year behind closed doors or with very limited participation.

Provisional 2021 F1 calendar

March 21 – Australian GP, ​​Melbourne
March 28 – Bahrain GP, ​​Sakhir
April 11 – Chinese GP, Shanghai
April 25 – TBC
May 9 – Spanish GP, Barcelona *
May 23 – Monaco GP, Monte Carlo
June 6 – Azerbaijani GP, Baku
June 13 – Canadian GP, ​​Montreal
June 27 – French GP, Paul Ricard
July 4 – Austrian GP, ​​Spielberg
July 18 – British GP, Silverstone
August 1 – Hungarian GP, ​​Budapest
29 August – Belgian GP, ​​Spa-Francorchamps
6 September – Dutch GP, Zandvoort
12 September – Italian GP, ​​Monza
September 26 – Russian GP, ​​Sochi
October 3 – Singapore GP, Marina Bay
October 10 – Japanese GP, Suzuka
October 24 – United States GP, Austin
October 31 – Mexican GP, ​​Mexico City
November 14 – Brazilian GP, ​​Sao Paulo *
November 28 – Saudi Arabian GP, ​​Jeddah
December 5 – Abu Dhabi GP, Yas Marina

* Subject to contract

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