F1 year to begin in Bahrain immediately after Australian GP postponed

LONDON

The get started of the Method A single season was delayed by one 7 days on Tuesday after the Australian Grand Prix was postponed since of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the race in Melbourne moved from March to November, the time will now get started in Bahrain on March 28.

The Australian race, at first established to open the season on March 21, has been rescheduled to Nov. 21 with F1 organizers citing “the ongoing scenario with regards to COVID-19.” The Chinese Grand Prix has also been postponed but no new date has been established. Stringent travel constraints for the pandemic make Australia and China amid the most difficult international locations for F1 groups to enter.

The year will in its place get started with the Bahrain Grand Prix fewer than 4 months just after the Sakhir location held two races as section of the 2020 season.

A race has been extra at the Imola observe in Italy on April 18, a 7 days soon after the scheduled date for the Chinese GP. There is a vacant slot on May 2, with the Portimao circuit in Portugal among the the main candidates for that weekend.

“Discussions with the promoter and authorities in China are ongoing with the likely to reschedule the race afterwards in the season if probable.” F1 claimed in a statement.

There is no clear again-up day in the calendar. Races in the second half of the period are structured back again-to-back again in 3-7 days blocks, placing hefty pressure on group employees.

Suspending the Australian GP presently implies pushing back again the stop of the time in Abu Dhabi by a 7 days to Dec. 12. The calendar stays at 23 races, the most at any time.

Martin Pakula, the minister for tourism and big events in the Victorian state government which backs the Melbourne race, reported it was a practical selection which perhaps could imply international followers attending — if Australia’s borders re-open up in time.

“This is the suitable choice and we thank Method 1 administration for their co-procedure in placing a new routine,” he claimed. “The Method 1 Australian Grand Prix is one of the wonderful functions in the planet and we’ll make confident it can be operate properly and successfully in November.”

The pandemic has disrupted the F1 year for a 2nd calendar year. Past year’s race in Australia was canceled right after one crew member examined beneficial for the coronavirus. Followers have been preparing to enter the circuit for Friday exercise when organizers announced the cancellation.

That started out a cascade of postponements and cancellations which intended the rescheduled 2020 season didn’t get started right up until July. There was a compressed 17-race plan by way of December with all races in Europe or the Center East.