Vietnam to miss out in 23-race F1 season

formula one

THE Vietnamese Grand Prix is absent from Formula One’s draft 2021 calendar, which features a record 23 rounds and a controversial debut for Saudi Arabia.

Hanoi was due to host a street race for the first time this April, but that was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Although Formula One did not mention Vietnam in a statement setting out the 2021 schedule, the BBC reported the decision not to host the race followed the arrest of Hanoi People’s Committee chairman Nguyen Duc Chung – a key figure responsible for the race – on corruption charges.

It will still be a record-breaking season, with 23 races listed when there have never previously been more than 21, and chairman and F1’s outgoing chief executive

Chase Carey said: ‘We are planning for 2021 events with fans that provide an experience close to normal.

‘We have proven we can safely travel and operate our races, and our promoters increasingly recognise the need to move forward and manage the virus.

‘We are delighted to see Saudi Arabia become part of the schedule and are equally excited to return to the venues we hoped to race at in 2020.’

However, Amnesty International has labelled hosting a Saudi race as ‘sportwashing’ in the face of the country’s ‘appalling human rights record’.

The proposed season will start with the return of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 21. The British Grand Prix is at Silverstone on July 18.