By Elishya Perera
LONDON (CWBN)_The Vietnamese Grand Prix has been dropped from the Formula One calendar for 2021, while Saudi Arabia is included in the 23 races scheduled for next year.
While the Vietnam race was postponed to April next year, amid the Coronavirus pandemic, however, the slot was listed as “TBC” on the calendar published today (Nov 10).
The remaining 22 races include the first ever Saudi Grand Prix, which will be held in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah on 28th November.
The 2021 season is scheduled to begin in Australia in March, and will end in Abu Dhabi in December.
“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,” F1 chairman Chase Carey said.
A key development in the calendar is that the race in Brazil, which was scheduled to be held in Sao Paulo rather than Rio De Janeiro, has been listed as “subject to contract”.
Even though F1 has agreed a deal for a race in the Deodoro area of Rio, as the contract for Sao Paulo’s track ended this year, however, the track in Rio, which is yet to be built, requires environmental approval as it involves felling of a patch of forest.
Meanwhile, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone will be held on 18th July, and the Dutch Grand Prix returns for the first time since 1985, after being canceled this year.
