Bahrain to host rescheduled F1 opening race
Formula One postponed the Australian Grand Prix from March to November, with Bahrain opening the season and China’s race left hanging, as Covid-19 forced the sport to rewrite the 2021 calendar on Tuesday.
Italy’s Imola circuit was added to the record 23-round schedule as the second race on April 18, after Bahrain on March 28.
The third slot on May 2 was still to be confirmed but is expected to be filled by Portugal’s Algarve circuit, which debuted last year. Australia was given a new date of Nov. 21 for what would normally be the season-opener in
Melbourne.
China’s race in
Shanghai was postponed due to ongoing travel restrictions making the scheduled date impossible.
While not listed on the revised schedule, Formula
One indicated
China would be slotted in if circumstances allowed and another race dropped off.
The calendar will not stretch beyond
23 races. Tickets for the Australian
Grand Prix had yet to go on sale and local organisers said it was the right decision to reschedule.
“As the third-last race of the season, this provides the opportunity to safely host what could be the championship-decider in Melbourne in the lead-in to summer,” said Australian Grand Prix Corporation Chairman Paul Little. The season ends with a double-header in Saudi Arabia, making its debut with a night race in Jeddah on Dec. 5, and Abu Dhabi on Dec. 12 — a week later than originally planned.
Formula One said it expected fans to return to the grandstands and the exclusive Paddock Club during the 2021 season.