Formula 1 reveals updated 22-race calendar for 2021
On the eve of the Belgian Grand Prix, Formula One has announced its revised 22-race calendar for the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship with the Commercial Rights Holder making tweaks to the closing leg of the season.
Following the news earlier this month that the Japanese Grand Prix would not be staged this year, Liberty Media was forced to work with promoters to make further adjustments to the 2021 F1 calendar.
The 2021 schedule originally encompassed 23 races which would have been a record breaking number. Even with the drop of a round, the season will still have 22 races, a record breaking number, a major achievement for an international sport against the back drop of an ongoing global pandemic.
After the summer break, the sport returned to action with the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend with the Spa round kick-starting another triple header. Following the Spa race, the field will head to Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix to then make the trip to Italy’s Monza for the Italian Grand Prix.
The action will be then resumed in Russia on 24-26 September, followed by two rounds in October with Turkey and the USA hosting the Turkish and the American Grands Prix respectively.
November will see drivers compete in the Mexican and the Brazilian Grands Prix with another event on November 21, at a circuit yet to be announced, before the season finishes with the first ever Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at Jeddah on December 5, and the finale at Abu Dhabi on December 12.
"The changes reflect the need for the Formula 1 community to navigate the ongoing complexities caused by the pandemic. The changes below demonstrate that Formula 1 can continue to adapt and deliver a season for all our fans around the world," read a Formula One statement.
Round 20 represents the final space on the calendar which will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: "We are very pleased to announce the updates to the 2021 calendar following extensive discussions with the promoters and national authorities. The pandemic continues to present the season with challenges but we have proven we can adapt and we are confident we can deliver a record breaking 22 races this year despite a global pandemic.”
“I want to thank the promoters in Brazil, Mexico and Turkey for their patience and flexibility and we will provide the details of the final addition soon. This season is proving to be an incredible battle on the track and this is hugely exciting for our fans around the world and we look forward to the intensity continuing in the races ahead," Domenical concluded.
