2021 F1 schedule: latest changes to record 23-race calendar

F1

The start of the grand prix season has been delayed but F1 is pressing on with plans for a 23-race schedule in its 2021 calendar, adding Portugal to the list of races

Melbourne skyline behind albert Park during the 2019 F1 Australian Grand Prix

Melbourne was due to open the 2021 F1 season before Covid forced its postponement

DPPI

Formula 1 announced a 23-race calendar for 2021 in an effort to bounce back from last year’s Covid-affected season, and seems determined to stick to it, despite changes to the schedule as pandemic restrictions continue.

The season-opening Australian Grand Prix, plus the Chinese round, have been postponed due to the situation, and there are also questions over races later this season. Monaco Grand Prix organisers have denied suggestions that this year’s race is set to be cancelled again.

Bahrain will now raise the curtain on the 2021 season in late March, with Melbourne moved to November. The Shanghai race has been postponed to an unconfirmed date and it’s not clear where the race could slot in. Imola has been added to the calendar as round two, with the Portuguese Grand Prix now confirmed as round three.

For now, most of the calendar remains unchanged. Saudi Arabi is due to host its first grand prix, and a remodelled Zandvoort will once again become part of the F1 calendar — after Covid prevented its return in 2020.

The Monaco Grand Prix is back on May 23, and Silverstone is penned to host the British Grand Prix on July 18.

Vietnam, however, has disappeared from the schedule. The Hanoi Street Circuit was due to host the country’s first F1 race this year before the pandemic intervened. But the arrest of an official responsible for the grand prix has meant that it is no longer a priority for the government.

2021 F1 schedule

Date Race Track
March 28 Bahrain Sakhir
April 18 Emilia Romagna Imola
May 2 Portugal Portimao
May 9 Spain Barcelona
May 23 Monaco Monaco
June 6 Azerbaijan Baku
June 13 Canada Montreal
June 27 France Paul Ricard
July 4 Austria Red Bull Ring
July 18 Britain Silverstone
August 1 Hungary Hungaroring
August 29 Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
September 5 Netherlands Zandvoort
September 12 Italy Monza
September 26 Russia Sochi
October 3 Singapore Singapore
October 10 Japan Suzuka
October 24 USA Circuit of the Americas
November 7 Mexico Mexico City
November 21 Brazil Interlagos
December 5 Saudi Arabia Jeddah
December 12 Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi

2021 F1 schedule changes

Australian Grand Prix Postponed Melbourne
Chinese Grand Prix Postponed Shanghai

 

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The longest Formula 1 seasons so far have had 21 races (in 2016, 2018 and 2019). 2020’s calendar was due to have 22 before Covid forced a complete rethink, but Formula 1 has now returned to expanding the schedule, which is capped at 25 races per year.

After attempts to move the Brazilian Grand Prix to a new track in Rio de Janeiro were stymied by controversy over the destruction of forest, Interlagos has agreed a new five year deal to host what will now be known as the Sao Paolo Grand Prix. That race will take place on November 14, ahead of the first Saudi Arabia GP — subject to ongoing legal action in Brazil.

Abu Dhabi’s contract secures its right to close the season, which is due to be on December 5 in 2021.

The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council approved the schedule at its December 16 meeting and congratulated the Formula 1 community for “the remarkable achievement of completing 17 events in the wake of the global pandemic”.

The 2022 dates had previously been published as a provisional calendar. At the time, F1’s outgoing Chairman and CEO, Chase Carey said: “We are planning for 2021 events with fans that provide an experience close to normal and expect our agreements to be honoured.

“We have proven that we can safely travel and operate our races and our promoters increasingly recognise the need to move forward and manage the virus. In fact, many hosts actually want to use our event as a platform to show the world they are moving forward.

“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. We want to thank all our promoters and partners for their ongoing enthusiasm and collaboration and look forward to giving our fans an exciting season on the track.”