Japanese Grand Prix canceled

The Japanese authorities had given themselves until the second half of August to take stock of the Tokyo Olympics in terms of health before authorizing or not the holding of the Japanese Grand Prix in F1. The decision fell today, and it is negative because of “ complexities resulting from the Covid pandemic ". If this decision is not a surprise, F1 was still hopeful of seeing the event take place in the wake of the Olympic Games having gone rather well from this point of view.

BREAKING: The 2021 Japanese Grand Prix has been canceled

： 報 ： 2021 日本 グ ラ ン プ リ 中止#JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 #F1 pic.twitter.com/LtdJtiYY2E

- Formula 1 (@ F1) August 18

On the FOM side, while we obviously regret the decision of the Japanese government, we claim to have anticipated the cancellation and to have worked on a replacement solution. A new schedule is being finalized since several options are on the table, and its disclosure should take a few weeks. What already seems certain is that the Turkish GP will not be the collateral victim of Suzuka's withdrawal. Placed just before Japan to prevent British personnel from returning to the United Kingdom to undergo a ten-day quarantine, it should remain on the calendar although belonging to the " red list » countries where the virus circulates the most.

For the F1 Group, the FOM and the FIA, the countdown has started since the teams Mercedes et Red Bull who play the championship will need quick readability on the second part of the championship. The latter should host new events since the holder of the commercial rights confirms the interest of circuits which do not appear on the calendar. While we wait to learn more, the only thing certain at the moment is that F1 is still determined to produce a 23-event calendar.