As expected, due to the continuing uncertainty over COVID, and the ongoing travel restrictions, F1 has had to revise the 2021 schedule.

Following discussions with the promoter in Turkey and relevant stakeholders, it will not be possible to have the race in Turkey between 11th - 13th June.

The promoter has requested that F1 looks at the potential opportunity for the race to be rescheduled later in the season if possible, alongside China who made the same request earlier this year.

There will now be two races in Austria, back to back, with the first race, the Styrian Grand Prix, taking place on 25th-27th June and the Austrian Grand Prix taking place on its original date on 2nd - 4th July.

As a result of this change the French Grand Prix will move one week earlier to 18th - 20th June, with all tickets for the event valid for the earlier date. This means that there continues to be 23 planned races for the 2021 season.

The rearrangement means that, despite previous warnings from the teams in terms of the logistical stress imposed, the season features yet another triple-header.

"We are grateful to the Turkish promoter for their support in recent days and the recognition that the current travel situation made the race in June impossible," said Formula One Management. "We are equally grateful to the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region and French Grand Prix promoter for their flexibility, and the Austrian promoter for their enthusiasm to host a second race at short notice following the huge success of the two races in Austria in 2020.

"The current COVID-19 situation remains fluid and we will continue to monitor the situation with the promoters and teams, but Formula 1 has again shown it is able to deal with these challenges and adapt swiftly to reduce the impact on the season. We are also delighted that we are beginning to see fans returning to our races with up to 40% capacity in Monaco next weekend.

"The Formula 1 community will continue to travel this season with stringent safety measures that allowed us to travel safely to 12 countries and deliver 17 races in 2020. The measures have proven to be highly effective with over 78,000 COVID-19 tests conducted last season returning only 78 positive results, a rate of 0.1%. So far this season we have conducted 17,000 tests with 15 positive cases, again a rate of 0.1%. This is alongside the vaccines that a number of teams have already received and the good rollout of the vaccine in the UK where seven of the ten teams are based. We will continue to operate in a way that protects the safety of our personnel and the communities we visit."

"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. "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 double header in Austria meaning our season remains at 23 races.

"I want to thank the promoter and authorities in Turkey for all of their efforts in recent weeks and want to thank the promoters in France and Austria for their speed, flexibility and enthusiasm in accommodating this solution. We have had very good conversations will all the other promoters since the start of the year and continue to work closely with them during this period."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 17/05/2021 12:20

"@ Editor...How right you are. When I retired from business I decided to become a professional artist and took up sculpture. For the next 15 years I worked ceaselessly carving marble and managed to damage my vertebrae so much so that the problem I now have can never be reversed hence I suffer from neck pain which at times can be unbearable. I have been known to complain in rather strong terms. My neighbour, a young guy around 30 years younger than me suffered a massive stroke in his sleep 6 days ago and is now at risk of being in a vegetative state for ever, blind and unable to talk or see. I will not be complaining about my problem for quite some time. There's always someone who's worse off.
"

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2. Posted by Editor, 16/05/2021 8:11

"@ Kenji

Re: Just remember that things could always be worse...

Funny enough, the other night I watched a superb Lebanese film called Capernaum.

After watching it, and seeing what the main character had to do just to survive I will try never to complain about anything again.

It is very, very easy to forget just how lucky - dare I say privileged - we really are,

By the way, it's a heavy going film but ultimately rewarding,"

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3. Posted by kenji, 16/05/2021 0:38

"A record number of races and a pandemic the likes of what have not been seen before by the current generation. That spells disruption and hence the number of races in the first instance. I'd bee sure that the entire reason for such a long list was primarily intended to cover contingencies given the virus restrictions. It certainly appears so to me. As for Sky...well,they'll go where they need to go and they won't risk any major disruptions to what they have signed on for. The risk of alienating fans is too great so I don't see too many problems there. Finally I just thank the 'gods of change' that we are still able to see and enjoy [ sometimes ] racing during these dreadful times of social upheaval/virus/ and threats of violence and mayhem that are breaking out daily on a global basis. Just remember that things could always be worse......"

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4. Posted by BillH, 15/05/2021 23:19

"@editor

Very good points about the disruption caused by rescheduling the events.

Sooner or later this is going to smack F1 in the place they least want it: broadcasting.

It's one thing to annoy the trackside folks but it is completely different having the likes of SkyF1 having to shift their crew and timetable let alone all the other platforms that take their feed.

Delayed events and highlight packages are not what F1 fans will put up with."

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5. Posted by Editor, 15/05/2021 7:24

"@ transplanted Brit

Fact is, despite what Stefano, Ross and the teams are forever telling us, the fans don't matter.

When Chase Carey proclaimed that 2021 would feature a 23-race schedule, F1, like everyone else knew that the pandemic wasn't over... and yet they persisted.

And now, with just a few weeks notice, the French Grand Prix is moved forward a week, Turkey dropped and a second race added in Austria.

Never mind those fans trying to make travel arrangements, what about the hundreds of volunteers - such as marshals - who have to change their plans with hardly any notice.

And you can bet that the marshals were not consulted about holding Sprint Qualifying at Silverstone in the evening.

The fact is, for legal and financial reasons, neither Formula One Management or the race promoters want to be first to cancel an event, therefore it is "postponed" and the calendar reshuffled accordingly.

Unwilling, unable even, to pay out the sort of money it had to pay to circuits last year, this time around FOM is quietly extending contracts for events by an extra year or two.

It was absolute madness to announce a 23-race schedule, far less continue with the charade, but F1 has painted itself into a corner."

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6. Posted by transplanted Brit, 14/05/2021 20:05

"It doesn't make sense to schedule a double header in Austria. When there are twenty three races this season, it would be easier to just cancel Turkey's slot and still have an over abundance of races (22).
"

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7. Posted by BillH, 14/05/2021 18:53

"Dang. Turkey, off the menu for now."

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Austria double-header replaces Turkey

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