Formula 1 is rejigging its 2021 calendar following the announcement of new travel restrictions for Turkey as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were all looking forward to racing in Turkey but the travel restrictions in place have meant we are not able to be there in June,” said Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, in a statement. “I want to thank the promoter and authorities in Turkey for all of their efforts in recent weeks.”
The race had been planned for June 11-13. No race will take place that weekend, but Formula 1 will maintain a 23-race season thanks to a new round in Austria.
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To accommodate the schedule change, the French Grand Prix at Circuit Paul Ricard will move forward one week to the weekend of June 18-20. The following weekend (June 25-27), a new race at Austria’s Red Bull Ring has been added. It will be followed by the scheduled race at the Austrian circuit on July 2-4.
This means three straight weeks of racing between June 18 and July 4. A similar doubleheader in Austria took place last year as a result of the pandemic. Formula 1 added that, although the French Grand Prix will be held a week early, all tickets sold are still valid.
“Formula 1 has shown again that it is able to react quickly to developments and find solutions and we are delighted that we will have a doubleheader in Austria meaning our season remains at 23 races,” said Domenicali.
Turkish promoters have asked that Formula 1 look at the potential for the race in Istanbul to be rescheduled. The series could push the Grand Prix to later in the year if another race pulls out. The series has a similar arrangement with the promoters of the Chinese Grand Prix, which was canceled for similar reasons.