F1
Saudi Arabia night race confirmed for 2021 Formula 1 season
Formula 1 will add a brand new race to the 2021 calendar with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix confirmed for the 2021 season. A street circuit in the city of…
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 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.”
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