2021 calendar

[JN23]

Latest reports are that there will be no Vietnam (!) and Brazil’s race will remain at Interlagos.

The lack of Vietnam is to do with the arrest of one of the key figures connected to the race.

https://the-race.com/formula-1/vietnam- ... nterlagos/

[Schumacher forever#1]

Good thing the season will probably be wrapped up by the time we go to the double header at Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi

[DOLOMITE]

Bit underwhelmed. I was hoping, but I guess not expecting, that this year might make the selection a little more varied next year. I'd like to see Portugal and Mugello stay.

[Zazu]

A country like Vietnam hosting F1 never made sense.

[Paolo_Lasardi]

Bit underwhelmed. I was hoping, but I guess not expecting, that this year might make the selection a little more varied next year. I'd like to see Portugal and Mugello stay.

One of them would well fit into the open late April slot, vacated by the aborted Vietnam GP.

[JN23]

Could Malaysia be an option? It’s a similar part of the world to Vietnam and we’ve raced around that time there previously.

[Harpo]

A country like Vietnam hosting F1 never made sense.

Yes ! Why a "third world" country when so many wealthy and infamous dictatorships are available ?

[Zazu]

Could Malaysia be an option? It’s a similar part of the world to Vietnam and we’ve raced around that time there previously.

They have Singapore GP in the region that cannabilises attendance. Malaysian government won't subside the event as the benefits are extremely limited. Cant see F1 budging on astronomical hosting fee when there are plenty of other countries queuing up and its not an important market. South East Asia is all about bikes not cars

[Black_Flag_11]

Bit underwhelmed. I was hoping, but I guess not expecting, that this year might make the selection a little more varied next year. I'd like to see Portugal and Mugello stay.

I'd love to see Imola again, I thought that was one of the best races this year. The track really gave a great sense of speed from the TV broadcast which I dont feel is often the case and the racing was great, DRS rarely provided a simple drive by and made it so that the moves came down to inches at the first hairpin.

[pokerman]

Bit underwhelmed. I was hoping, but I guess not expecting, that this year might make the selection a little more varied next year. I'd like to see Portugal and Mugello stay.

That was always a pipe dream given the losses that Liberty Media have had this year, next year was always going to be about maximising circuit revenue.

[Asphalt_World]

Vietnam scrapped due to corruption that's not actually connected to the organisation of the race.

Of course, there's nothing similarly dodgy about visiting Saudi Arabia.

[DFWdude]

I'd give up Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Sochi... for one each Imola and Portimao

[Banana Man]

I think some people have been getting carried away with the present exceptional circumstances. Races like Mugello and Portimao were never viable, they’ve simply been put on as an emergency stop gap because of the restrictions on world travel.

I’d love to see Sepang back in the TBC slot, although I realise this is massively unlikely in itself. Pleased to see Vietnam isn’t on there, that track looked s**t.

[Asphalt_World]

I think some people have been getting carried away with the present exceptional circumstances. Races like Mugello and Portimao were never viable, they’ve simply been put on as an emergency stop gap because of the restrictions on world travel.

I’d love to see Sepang back in the TBC slot, although I realise this is massively unlikely in itself. Pleased to see Vietnam isn’t on there, that track looked s**t.

How are they not viable if they happened? Unless you mean that the sport won't make as many millions from them. But greed had removed so many classic circuits and teams from the sport.

[Banana Man]

I think some people have been getting carried away with the present exceptional circumstances. Races like Mugello and Portimao were never viable, they’ve simply been put on as an emergency stop gap because of the restrictions on world travel.

I’d love to see Sepang back in the TBC slot, although I realise this is massively unlikely in itself. Pleased to see Vietnam isn’t on there, that track looked s**t.

How are they not viable if they happened? Unless you mean that the sport won't make as many millions from them. But greed had removed so many classic circuits and teams from the sport.

They’re not viable because there are 20+ other venues, sometimes propped up by despot regimes keen on a bit of good international PR, who are willing to pay more to host a race. That’s the nature of the beast, even classics like Spa, Monza and Silverstone are under constant threat of the Crown Prince of somewhere or other chucking a couple of billion at a new Tilkedrome or downtown raceway.

[DFWdude]

I think some people have been getting carried away with the present exceptional circumstances. Races like Mugello and Portimao were never viable, they’ve simply been put on as an emergency stop gap because of the restrictions on world travel.

I’d love to see Sepang back in the TBC slot, although I realise this is massively unlikely in itself. Pleased to see Vietnam isn’t on there, that track looked s**t.

How are they not viable if they happened? Unless you mean that the sport won't make as many millions from them. But greed had removed so many classic circuits and teams from the sport.

They’re not viable because there are 20+ other venues, sometimes propped up by despot regimes keen on a bit of good international PR, who are willing to pay more to host a race. That’s the nature of the beast, even classics like Spa, Monza and Silverstone are under constant threat of the Crown Prince of somewhere or other chucking a couple of billion at a new Tilkedrome or downtown raceway.

And people thought that Bernie Ecclestone was too commercial. The current F1/Liberty money grab from countries that have more money than morals paints a wrong picture of the F1 powers today.

Maybe the Coronavirus pandemic will make people come to their senses, teaching that money isn't everything. Naw, sorry. What was I thinking?

[JN23]

Simon Lazenby said in Sky's post-race coverage that they understand the TBC slot is between Turkey and Malaysia.

[Banana Man]

Simon Lazenby said in Sky's post-race coverage that they understand the TBC slot is between Turkey and Malaysia.

I’d be delighted with either but probably Sepang edges it for the threat of rain. Just so long as it’s not 2009 tropical thunderstorms.

[Paolo_Lasardi]

Simon Lazenby said in Sky's post-race coverage that they understand the TBC slot is between Turkey and Malaysia.

Istanbul would be great.

[JN23]

FIA has approved the calendar: https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433 ... a-approval

I've read there's concerns about the feasibility of the Australian GP, I assume that's related to Covid. I would have thought street races would be difficult with bubbles, social distancing etc. Obviously all other races are subject to covid stuff.

One minor gripe - Baku to Montreal is a trek to do in a week. I'm not sure why Baku is back in June but that could take the TBC slot and find a race in more western Europe so the travel isn't as bad. I know it's not as simple as that but anyway.

Also - Interlagos got five more years, which for me is good and bad news.

[Schumacher forever#1]

FIA has approved the calendar: https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433 ... a-approval

I've read there's concerns about the feasibility of the Australian GP, I assume that's related to Covid. I would have thought street races would be difficult with bubbles, social distancing etc. Obviously all other races are subject to covid stuff.

One minor gripe - Baku to Montreal is a trek to do in a week. I'm not sure why Baku is back in June but that could take the TBC slot and find a race in more western Europe so the travel isn't as bad. I know it's not as simple as that but anyway.

Also - Interlagos got five more years, which for me is good and bad news.

Yeah the apparent interest in creating a low as possible carbon footprint in F1 remains in question.

Great news about Interlagos for my own self interest lol - one of my favourite tracks and has always provided crazy races.

And yeah I wonder about China as well - considering I thought there was still an exceptionally strict quarantining process involved in entering the country.

[JN23]

Looks like we won’t be having an Australian Grand Prix: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/15443 ... -postponed

[JN23]

According to RaceFans the Chinese GP is also in doubt. The idea is that Imola and Portimao replace Australia/China with Australia taking place towards the end of the season.

https://www.racefans.net/2021/01/06/alg ... risk-list/

[Mort Canard]

I am sort of expecting that Australia and probably Canada will be canceled. US, Mexico, and Brazil might be late enough in the year to benefit from the vaccination campaigns.

I would really like to see Sepang replace Vietnam in the April time slot.

[JN23]

Imola is back again! Portimao expected to follow, China now a reserve slot for later in the year, Australia in November.

[pokerman]

Imola and Portimao has to be seen as excellent news.

[Steve_muzzy]

Looking at that i suspect Canada is next in line to be postponed. I can see another europe and middle east season ahead.

[Asphalt_World]

Thinking out loud here, but are the races postponed due to issues over current Covid levels and teams flying in and out of the country, or are the organisers hoping that dates later in the year will enable fans in and therefore lots more money?

[pokerman]

Thinking out loud here, but are the races postponed due to issues over current Covid levels and teams flying in and out of the country, or are the organisers hoping that dates later in the year will enable fans in and therefore lots more money?

I can't see how that works because there are 23 races scheduled, if they lose their race to an unscheduled circuit they then need a circuit later down the line to cancel for them to get their race back.

[Asphalt_World]

Thinking out loud here, but are the races postponed due to issues over current Covid levels and teams flying in and out of the country, or are the organisers hoping that dates later in the year will enable fans in and therefore lots more money?

I can't see how that works because there are 23 races scheduled, if they lose their race to an unscheduled circuit they then need a circuit later down the line to cancel for them to get their race back.

Australia has been moved to November, I thought.

[JN23]

Looking at that i suspect Canada is next in line to be postponed. I can see another europe and middle east season ahead.

Possibly Baku too I'd have thought - must be difficult to sort out a street circuit in the current climate.

[JN23]

Some legal issues around the Sao Paulo GP:

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/15454 ... d-by-judge

[JN23]

Portugal takes the TBC slot as the start of May, subject to contracts being signed.

[j man]

Good news! I was very pleasantly surprised by Portimao last year, it's a fabulous race track.

[Siao7]

Portugal takes the TBC slot as the start of May, subject to contracts being signed.

Portugal at the moment has one of (if not the) highest rates of Covid deaths in Europe, so let's see how that plays out...