F1 announce replacement for Singapore Grand Prix

Formula 1

F1 announce replacement for Singapore Grand Prix

Turkey is back on the calendar

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Friday 25 June 2021 11:00

Turkey will return to this season's F1 calendar to replace the Singapore Grand Prix which was axed due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The race will take place on the original weekend slated for the event at Marina Bay of October 1-3, giving the Istanbul Park venue a second lease of life this season.

Turkey was originally handed a spot on the calendar after the Canadian GP was axed but a place on the UK government's red list for travel meant it was also cancelled just a week after it was announced.

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GPFans Global understands that F1 is confident that by the time the sport has moved onto the Japanese Grand Prix, which is held the weekend after the Turkish event, any quarantine period would have elapsed whilst the sport is in the Asian country.

This would allow all personnel to return to the UK without the need for isolation.

Turkey was one of the three options listed to take over from Singapore on this year's schedule, with China and a second race at the Circuit of the Americas under consideration.

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said: “We are delighted to be coming back to Turkey to Intercity Istanbul Park circuit.

"We hope to see another fantastic race again in one of the best tracks in the world.

"We want to thank the Intercity Istanbul Park management and Mr. Vural Ak for his personal efforts to make this event happen.

"We have shown that we can continue to adapt and there is huge interest in our sport and the hope from many locations to have a grand prix.

"We have had very good conversations with all the other promoters since the start of the year and continue to work closely with them during this period.”

Japanese Grand Prix to go ahead as planned

GPFans Global also understands that F1 is confident the Japanese GP will go ahead as planned with the sport's covid safety protocols ensuring trust from the country will allow the sport to travel to the country.

The sport is optimistic that it will be granted the same travel rights as the Olympic Games and competing countries have, with vastly fewer travelling members involved.

It is understood extra time in Japan after the event would then allow for safe travel back to the UK to ensure the 10-day quarantine period is completed before arrival.

Citing its safety record, F1 noted: "The Formula 1 community will continue to travel this season with stringent measures that have allowed us to travel safely.

"So far we have conducted over 44,000 tests with 27 positive cases, a rate of 0.06%, with most coming during the earlier part of the season.

"Alongside this, a significant proportion of the F1 community has been vaccinated already and we are confident that all will have had the opportunity to do so by the end of the summer.

"We will continue to operate in a way that protects the safety of our personnel and the communities we visit."