Formula 1 has announced several changes to the 2021 F1 calendar today, including new dates in November for the Australian Grand Prix, the postponement of the Chinese Grand Prix and the return of Imola.
The changes to this year’s calendar, which was initially announced last November, have been driven by ongoing travel restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. These restrictions are particularly severe in Australia, where foreign arrivals are currently required to undergo a 14-day period of quarantine. As a result, the Australian Grand Prix has been moved from its traditional season-opening slot in March to new dates in the second half of November. The prognosis is not so good for the Chinese Grand Prix, which will not take place in early April as planned but has not yet been given a new calendar slot in 2021.
The 2021 Formula 1 season is now scheduled to begin in Bahrain on March 26-28, one week later than planned. The Sakhir circuit has hosted the opening round of the season on two previous occasions, but this will be the first time that a Formula 1 season has begun with a night race. The absence of Australia and China in the early part of the season has also opened the door for the return of Autodromo Imola. The Italian circuit made a welcome return to the F1 calendar as host of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in 2020 and has now been confirmed as the venue for the second race of the new season on April 16-18. The venue for the third race of the season, now scheduled for April 30-May 2, has not yet been announced, but it is thought that the Algarve International Circuit in Portimao is a leading contender. The circuit debuted on the Formula 1 calendar as the host of the Portuguese Grand Prix last October and made a very positive impression on drivers, teams and spectators.
The 2021 Australian Grand Prix is now set to take place on November 18-21, a late-season calendar slot that hasn’t been seen for the race since it was held in Adelaide between 1985-1995. With the second half of the season already heavily compressed, several race dates have had to be adjusted to accommodate the new dates for the Australian Grand Prix. The 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix will now be run one week earlier on November 5-7, forming the final part of a triple-header with the USA and Mexico. Meanwhile, the last two races in Saudi Arabia (December 3-5) and Abu Dhabi (December 10-12) will take place one week later.
As part of today’s announcement, Formula 1 confirmed that the 2021 season will still comprise a record-breaking 23 races and that “we expect fans to return to the grandstands and our exclusive Paddock Club for the 2021 season.”
“It has been a busy start to the year at Formula 1 and we are pleased to confirm that the number of races planned for the season remains unchanged. The global pandemic has not yet allowed life to return to normal, but we showed in 2020 that we can race safely as the first international sport to return and we have the experience and plans in place to deliver on our season.
It is great news that we have already been able to agree a rescheduled date for the Australian Grand Prix in November and are continuing to work with our Chinese colleagues to find a solution to race there in 2021 if something changes.
We are very excited to announce that Imola will return for the 2021 season and know our fans will be looking forward to the return of Formula 1 after the winter break and our revised season opener in Bahrain. Obviously, the virus situation remains fluid, but we have the experience from last season with all our partners and promoters to adapt accordingly and safely in 2021.”
Revised 2021 Formula 1 calendar
| Round | Event | Where? | When? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix | Sakhir | March 26-28 |
| 2. | TBC | Autodromo Imola | April 16-18 |
| 3. | TBC | TBC | April 30-May 2 |
| 4. | 2021 Spanish Grand Prix | Barcelona | May 7-9 |
| 5. | 2021 Monaco Grand Prix | Monaco | May 20-23 |
| 6. | 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix | Baku | June 4-6 |
| 7. | 2021 Canadian Grand Prix | Montreal | June 11-13 |
| 8. | 2021 French Grand Prix | Paul Ricard | June 25-27 |
| 9. | 2021 Austrian Grand Prix | Spielberg | July 2-4 |
| 10. | 2021 British Grand Prix | Silverstone | July 16-18 |
| 11. | 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix | Budapest | July 30-Aug 1 |
| 12. | 2021 Belgian Grand Prix | Spa | August 27-29 |
| 13. | 2021 Dutch Grand Prix | Zandvoort | September 3-5 |
| 14. | 2021 Italian Grand Prix | Monza | September 10-12 |
| 15. | 2020 Russian Grand Prix | Sochi | September 24-26 |
| 16. | 2021 Singapore Grand Prix | Singapore | October 1-3 |
| 17. | 2021 Japanese Grand Prix | Suzuka | October 8-10 |
| 18. | 2021 United States Grand Prix | Austin | October 22-24 |
| 19. | 2021 Mexico City Grand Prix | Mexico City | October 29-31 |
| 20. | 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix | Interlagos | November 5-7 |
| 21. | 2021 Australian Grand Prix | Melbourne | November 19-21 |
| 22. | 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix | Jeddah | December 3-5 |
| 23. | 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | Yas Marina | December 10-12 |
