F1's 2021 planning has taken another hit, as the Chinese GP will likely be pushed back. The event's promoters are now searching for a viable date later in the year.
The Formula 1 2021 calendar suffered another blow this week, as the Chinese GP is most probably set to be postponed. It is said the race’s promoter is seeking a date later in the year.
Yibin Yang of Juss Event told local reporters that they are in constant communication with F1 via weekly video conferences. He remains confident that the season can start in the first half of the year, but noted that they have officially asked to reschedule the Chinese GP for the second half.
Yang pointed out that scheduling everything for the latter part of the year would be a logistical nightmare for Juss Event, given their involvement with other sporting events like tennis and snooker.
Yang explained that the final call depends on the city administration. He cautioned that if every postponed international event is moved to the second half of the year, the city will be overwhelmed. He emphasized that successful hosting requires significant support from health services and the police; having too many events at once would drain public resources and create marketing conflicts between the competitions.
Recent reports indicate that the Portuguese GP at Portimao could replace the Chinese GP on April 11. Meanwhile, F1 leadership remains committed to sticking with their original 23-race plan.
An F1 spokesperson recently stated that the organization intends to deliver the full 23-race season as scheduled. They pointed to the success of 2020 as proof that they can conduct racing safely.
With established protocols and plans already in place, F1 is aiming for a March start to the season.
As the world continues to deal with the pandemic, the situation remains fluid as F1 attempts to return to a standard racing calendar.