The Vietnam Grand Prix in Hanoi will not feature on the 2021 Formula One calendar, ESPN has learned.
The inaugural race was cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it was expected to make a return on next year’s calendar.
However, following the arrest of Hanoi People’s Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung, one of the main supporters of the race, it will not feature on the 2021 calendar, and its long-term future remains in doubt.
The track in the east of Hanoi, which is part street circuit and part permanent, was completed in February this year and was set to be the first all-new new circuit added to the calendar by F1 owners Liberty Media, who took control of the sport in 2017.
Vietnam’s April 25 slot has been left « TBC » on the provisional calendar for 2021, which is set to be published later Tuesday before it is signed off by the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council.
Malaysia’s Sepang circuit is being considered as an alternative for Vietnam along with Portugal’s Algarve circuit, Imola in Italy and Turkey’s Istanbul Park, which were all used to fill in on this year’s COVID-affected calendar.
The 23-race calendar also features a new night race in Saudi Arabia, which was confirmed last week.
F1 to remain at Interlagos
After months of speculation, the Brazilian Grand Prix will continue at the Interlagos circuit in 2021 rather than switch to a new circuit in Rio de Janeiro.
The track in Rio de Janeiro has yet to be built and the plans proved controversial, as they would have resulted in the felling of thousands of trees in the Camboata Forest.
ESPN understands a five-year deal is set to be secured with a new promoter at Interlagos, meaning Tamas Rohonyi, who cut a deal with outgoing CEO Bernie Ecclestone in 2017 to hold three races between 2018 and 2020 without paying a fee to F1, is no longer involved.
The 2021 schedule will otherwise run in a similar order to the races on the original 2020 calendar.
One change will see the Dutch circuit of Zandvoort, which last hosted a race in 1985, form part of a tripleheader by slotting in between the Belgium Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps and the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Another tripleheader will be formed by the Russian, Singapore and Japanese Grands Prix.
The U.S. Grand Prix is set to be held at Austin on Oct. 24.
The season is set to start with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 21.
Formula One is hoping to allow fans back at circuits after racing this year behind closed doors or with very limited attendance.
Provisional 2021 F1 calendar
March 21: Australian GP, Melbourne
March 28: Bahrain GP, Sakhir
April 11: Chinese GP, Shanghai
April 25: TBC
May 9: Spanish GP, Barcelona*
May 23: Monaco GP, Monte Carlo
June 6: Azerbaijan GP, Baku
June 13: Canadian GP, Montreal
June 27: French GP, Paul Ricard
July 4: Austrian GP, Spielberg
July 18: British GP, Silverstone
Aug. 1: Hungarian GP, Budapest
Aug. 29: Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps
Sept. 6: Dutch GP, Zandvoort
Sept. 12: Italian GP, Monza
Sept. 26: Russian GP, Sochi
Oct. 3: Singapore GP, Marina Bay
Oct. 10: Japanese GP, Suzuka
Oct. 24: U.S. GP, Austin
Oct. 31: Mexican GP, Mexico City
Nov. 14: Brazilian GP, Sao Paulo*
Nov. 28: Saudi Arabian GP, Jeddah
Dec. 5: Abu Dhabi GP, Yas Marina
*Subject to contract
https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/30289507/vietnam-left-2021-calendar-interlagos-set-return
