Portuguese GP to fill vacant 2021 slot

The Portuguese Grand Prix is set to be confirmed on the 2021 Formula 1 calendar in a meeting of the Formula 1 Commission on Thursday.

GPFans has learned the current vacant May 2 slot on the calendar is set to be taken by Portimao, the circuit that last year held the first Portuguese Grand Prix since 1996.

It had been hoped an announcement confirming the finalised calendar could be made sooner but a rise in coronavirus cases held up the process with F1 monitoring and evaluating the ever-changing situation.

Portugal was recently added to the United Kingdom's 'red list' with travellers returning from the country required to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days. Unlike with previous travel restrictions, elite sportspeople are not exempt.

With the Spanish Grand Prix following directly after the Portimao weekend, however, it was unlikely personnel would have planned to return home between races, although it does mean some will stay in Europe until the quarantine period has elapsed.

Had Portugal been unable to host the third race of the year, it is understood a Bahrain double-header, similar to that seen at the end of 2020, could have been considered but, with Portugal always the favoured option, talks never reached a serious stage.

The decision, once announced following Thursday's meeting, confirms Imola will host the second race of the year on April 18 following the season-opener in Bahrain on March 28.

Also to be voted on during the meeting is the plan to introduce Saturday sprint races, with three races set to trial the revised weekend format this year.

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