COVID-19 strikes back with its new strain this year. To aggravate matters for F1 fans, races are already being postponed. The Australian Grand Prix was pushed to a later date in November and the Chinese Grand Prix stands postponed until further notice. However, with other races also at risk, it gets worse.
The virus infection has already been responsible for an entirely new calendar last season. This season, it again hints at similar transmission rates and therefore races could be canceled again like the 2020 season.
The FIA announced 23 rounds packed championship calendar late last year and the pilots were concerned about the stress. However, it seems that it may not be possible to hold so many rounds.
With that news, the races that appear mostly to be at risk are Monaco, Azerbaijan, and Canada , According to a report by Motorsport Turkey. Interestingly, the common factor in all three of these is that they are street tracks. Elaborately, the tracks are made by joining public streets, and thus making them race-ready has a huge cost involved in itself.
Besides that, it takes almost seven weeks to prepare the roads to hold a Grand Prix level event. The entire affair culminates to be a huge financial gamble and if the races were to be canceled at the last moment, the state would not be able to bear the loss.
Read More Abiteboul Credits Daniel Ricciardo for Renault’s Turnaround After a Disappointing Season
Problems may aggravate for F1 in 2021
On cancellation of any of the three tracks mentioned, the most obvious replacement would be Istanbul Park Turkey. The month of Ramadan being April, the city will not have issues hosting races in May. As Imola has already replaced the Shanghai circuit, a few other replacements would not shock the fans.
The Chinese Grand Prix currently stands postponed until further notice. The COVID regulations in the Asian country too are two weeks quarantine and it is impossible for an F1 party to abide by that. Although Imola has replaced it to continue the season, there is no guarantee that China will have a further date.
At the rapid rate which COVID spreads again, FIA president Jean Todt had already foreseen these difficulties arising. He had warned this party to brace for the incoming confusion and it has already begun. The exciting calendar may not be very exciting once the problems increase. However, as fans, we have nothing but hope.
Read More McLaren Send a Heartfelt Message to Aussie Ricciardo Fans After Australian GP Postponement
The post 2021 F1 Calendar Under Serious Threat as 3 More Events Risk Being Cancelled appeared first on EssentiallySports.
