• Latest
  • Trending
Australian GP postponement set to trigger significant calendar changes

Australian GP postponement set to trigger significant calendar changes

January 9, 2021
FIA launches all-electric GT category

FIA launches all-electric GT category

April 22, 2021
Ronan Murphy to race in Formula Ford Festival

Ronan Murphy to race in Formula Ford Festival

April 21, 2021
Veteran Russell Ingall returns with Supercheap Bathurst 1000 Wildcard

Veteran Russell Ingall returns with Supercheap Bathurst 1000 Wildcard

April 21, 2021
First win of the season a ‘mega feeling’ for Hunter McElrea

First win of the season a ‘mega feeling’ for Hunter McElrea

April 21, 2021
New MOTUL Honda Cup champs confirm title defences

New MOTUL Honda Cup champs confirm title defences

April 21, 2021
De Veth and Smith pounce on drama to secure back-to-back enduro wins

North Island and South Island Endurance Series’ to get live coverage on Sky Sport

April 20, 2021
Ransley excited by tough TCR NZ competition

Ransley excited by tough TCR NZ competition

April 20, 2021
Greg Murphy, Renault R.S 01 confirmed for North Island Endurance Series

Greg Murphy, Renault R.S 01 confirmed for North Island Endurance Series

April 20, 2021
John Penny joins Gene Rollinson for NIERDC three-hour series

John Penny joins Gene Rollinson for NIERDC three-hour series

April 20, 2021
Manuell claims third V8 Ute title

Manuell claims third V8 Ute title

April 20, 2021
Evans takes podium in ELMS opener

Evans takes podium in ELMS opener

April 19, 2021
Thursday, April 22, 2021
VelocityNews
Classifieds
Subscribe
  • News
    • International
      • Formula 1
      • Formula 2
      • Formula 3
      • Formula E
      • Esports
      • Super GT
      • Super Formula
      • TCR
      • WEC
      • GT
      • Porsche Carrera Cup
      • BTCC
      • DTM
      • IMSA
      • IndyCar
      • NASCAR
      • WRC
      • MotoGP
      • Motorcycle Racing
      • Classic
    • New Zealand
      • Toyota Race Series
      • Toyota 86
      • Rally
      • Speedway
      • Drifting
      • Formula Ford
      • Formula First
      • TCR NZ
      • TransTasman V8 Series
      • V8 Utes
      • GTRNZ
      • Central Muscle Cars
      • Pirelli Porsche
      • Mazda Racing Series
      • NIERDC
      • SIERDC
      • SsangYong Utes
      • Kartsport
      • NZ General
    • Australia
      • Supercars
      • Super2
      • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
      • S5000
      • Australian GT
      • TCR AU
    • General
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Classifieds
    • Classifieds
    • Post Classified
    • Manage your listings
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard
No Result
View All Result
VelocityNews
No Result
View All Result

Australian GP postponement set to trigger significant calendar changes

by Zane Shackleton
January 9, 2021
in Formula 1, International, News
0

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

FIA launches all-electric GT category

First win of the season a ‘mega feeling’ for Hunter McElrea

With the announcement of the Australian Grand Prix’s postponement imminent, Formula 1 is preparing for yet another significant overhaul of its 2021 season.

Only 12 months ago, a 17-round schedule was somehow able to be squeezed into the year despite the global pandemic causing the sport to reshuffle its initial plans.

F1 had then hoped that a largely ‘normal’ 2021 championship season would unfold, starting with the usual curtain-raiser in Australia in March.

However, with teams and drivers reluctant to the idea of spending two weeks in managed isolation in Victoria, the Albert Park opener is now almost certain to be postponed until October/November.

A knock-on result is that pre-season testing will be moved from Barcelona to Bahrain. The Sakhir circuit is now poised to become the new season opener.

Likewise, the third round of the championship in China is understood to be at risk of cancellation for the second year in a row.

What it means is that following a Bahrain opener, there would be two free slots with no set venue – given that a TBC round had been pencilled in to host an event after the Chinese GP.

After their shock return to the calendar last season, Imola and Algarve could find a place on a new 2021 schedule.

Imola would host its round three weeks after Bahrain and essentially open an extended European leg, with Portugal and Spain hosting back-to-back rounds.

Turkey and Mugello have also been mooted for possible returns after their last-minute addition to the 2020 calendar.

The FIA’s President Jean Todt admitted earlier in the week that he expected the first half of the 2021 calendar to undergo numerous changes as the world continues its battle with the virus.

“Unfortunately, it is not over — it is not like the season is ending and we start from a (clean) piece of paper, because lockdown is still going to happen, confinement — the virus is there,” Todt said.

“But I am sure that we will hear quite a lot of potential changes on the different calendars. And not only to Formula 1 but on other calendars.

“So…I think half of (2021), in my opinion, will not be as we could have expected to have in a normal season.”

Unlike last year, it seems the FIA and F1 are confident that a race in Australia can go ahead in 2021, albeit at a later date.

The usual run of Asia, American and Middle Eastern races in the second half of the calendar opens Melbourne’s opportunity to slot back onto the calendar.

Last year, we saw that circuits and race organisers were very flexible in their re-scheduling of races. There is no reason why F1 cannot shift Australia back until the later part of the year.

The most likely date has appeared as November 21, with Australia slotting between rounds in Brazil and Saudi Arabia.

The race in Saudi Arabia and the season finale in Abu Dhabi will then be shifted back one week to compensate for Albert Park’s addition.

A decision on the status of the Australian Grand Prix is expected to be made sometime next week.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

FIA launches all-electric GT category

Ronan Murphy to race in Formula Ford Festival

Veteran Russell Ingall returns with Supercheap Bathurst 1000 Wildcard

First win of the season a ‘mega feeling’ for Hunter McElrea

New MOTUL Honda Cup champs confirm title defences

North Island and South Island Endurance Series’ to get live coverage on Sky Sport

Bringing you the latest motorsport news in New Zealand and around the world

Managing editor and publisher:
Mark Petch mark@velocitynews.co.nz

Motorsport Editor:
Matthew Hansen matt@velocitynews.co.nz

Motorsport Editor:
Alex Schultz alex@velocitynews.co.nz

Motor Racing Editor:
Zane Shackleton zane@velocitynews.co.nz

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2020 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • International
      • Formula 1
      • Formula 2
      • Formula 3
      • Formula E
      • Esports
      • Super GT
      • Super Formula
      • TCR
      • WEC
      • GT
      • Porsche Carrera Cup
      • BTCC
      • DTM
      • IMSA
      • IndyCar
      • NASCAR
      • WRC
      • MotoGP
      • Motorcycle Racing
      • Classic
    • New Zealand
      • Toyota Race Series
      • Toyota 86
      • Rally
      • Speedway
      • Drifting
      • Formula Ford
      • Formula First
      • TCR NZ
      • TransTasman V8 Series
      • V8 Utes
      • GTRNZ
      • Central Muscle Cars
      • Pirelli Porsche
      • Mazda Racing Series
      • NIERDC
      • SIERDC
      • SsangYong Utes
      • Kartsport
      • NZ General
    • Australia
      • Supercars
      • Super2
      • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
      • S5000
      • Australian GT
      • TCR AU
    • General
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Classifieds
    • Classifieds
    • Post Classified
    • Manage your listings
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard

© 2020 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.