Formula One has announced a 23-race calendar for the 2021 season which, if the schedule is completed, will be the longest in its history.
With the season starting in Melbourne and a controversial race planned for Saudi Arabia, the highly anticipated Vietnamese Grand Prix is not in the schedule.
F1’s provisional calendar, which has been submitted to the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) for approval, exceeds the previous maximum of 21 races in a season.
Owners Liberty Media are confident that having successfully managed the Coronavirus impacted 17-race season this year, 2021 will represent a return to normality for the sport, including having fans attending races.
Formula One Chief Executive, Chase Carey explained “we are planning for 2021 events with fans that provide an experience close to normal and expect our agreements to be honoured.
“We have proven that we can safely travel and operate our races and our promoters increasingly recognise the need to move forward and manage the virus.”
The omission of the Vietnam Grand Prix, which was to have debuted this year but which was cancelled as COVID-19 forced changes to the sporting calendar, follows the arrest of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chairman, Nguyen Duc Chung, a key figure in promoting the race.
His arrest, for alleged appropriation of documents containing state secrets, was not related to the race but the Vietnamese Government have subsequently decided to not continue with the project for next year.
The absence of the race is a blow the sport, which has stated their intent to add destination cities as F1 venues and this was intended to be the first new race meeting added to the calendar since buying the sport three years ago.
The season is set to begin in Melbourne on 21st March and includes two sets of triple-header races.
Hosting a race in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia has been condemned by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
The inaugural event will take place on Jeddah’s corniche, which runs along the banks of the Red Sea, providing a coastal backdrop for a full weekend of live motorsport, entertainment and cultural events.
The race is scheduled to be the penultimate meeting of the season on 28th November before the finale at Abu Dhabi on 5th December.
Images: The Formula One Vietnam Grand Prix racetrack in Hanoi in March (top) and F1's provisional 2021 calendar (below).
About the author
Nigel Benton
Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management
Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.
With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.
Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.
In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.
He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).
In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.
As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.
His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well as caring for Stella the pug.
Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.
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