The Interlagos circuit has secured a place on the 2021 F1 calendar despite competition from a rival project in Rio de Janeiro, RaceFans understands.
However doubt has arisen over whether Vietnam’s first world championship race will go ahead in 2021. RaceFans understands it does not feature on the current calendar draft, though a space has been left for a race at a ‘to be confirmed’ venue following the Chinese Grand Prix.The inaugural Vietnam Grand Prix was originally scheduled for April this year, but postponed and eventually cancelled due to the pandemic. However the new doubt over its future is believed to stem from the recent arrest of Hanoi People’s Committee chairman Duc Chung, who was closely involved in the running of the race.
Up to five other circuits are thought to be in the running to replace the race, including Istanbul Park, Imola, Algarve, Sepang or one of Germany’s tracks.
Efforts to relocate Brazil’s round of the world championship to a new circuit in the Deodoro area have been delayed due to concerns over the environmental implications of constructing the facility. The proposal has been widely criticised, including by six-times world champion Lewis Hamilton, who urged planners not to cut down trees to build the track.
The circuit’s contract was due to expire following this year’s race. Another event facing an uncertain future, the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya, is also believed to have won a reprieve to remain on the schedule next year.
The inclusion of these races will ensure the calendar features at least 22 rounds. It is expected to be announced this week, possibly as early as tomorrow.
The calendar is understood to be along similar lines to the schedule which was originally proposed for 2020. It will also include a new street race in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as the penultimate round of the championship before the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Update: This article was revised to include additional details on Vietnam’s round of the world championship
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Patrick (@paeschli)
9th November 2020, 21:05
Here’s to many more years at Interlagos 🎉
Dave
10th November 2020, 11:46
Yeah!
Joe
9th November 2020, 21:14
Good, and screw Chase Carey for trying to push that Rio crap with shady politicians in the first place.
Jemima
9th November 2020, 22:43
Shady politicians will come in handy if they’ve cut all the trees down.
Jeorge
10th November 2020, 3:44
Ha
BasCB (@bascb)
10th November 2020, 7:00
It was never about Liberty (Chase) pushing for that change. It was Brazil that pushed for the change. And Bernie helped it along by getting his pal, who was the promotor in Interlagos a deal that was bad for Liberty last year.
t1redmonkey (@t1redmonkey)
9th November 2020, 21:23
great I love interlagos. catanlunya on the other hand…
Dave
10th November 2020, 11:43
…should be swapped for Hockenheim after this year
BasCB (@bascb)
9th November 2020, 22:00
Wow, that is a big development in Vietnam there (also good for the Brazil development to NOT get through at least for now.)
Joao (@johnmilk)
9th November 2020, 22:02
what do you mean “Racefans understands”?
This was sent to the press, it is not something a secret source told you, this news is under an embargo
Keeps happening though, amazing
Agris Rūmītis
9th November 2020, 22:21
well, Racefans just confirm they understand what they read. simple as that.
Robert McKay
9th November 2020, 22:16
“However the new doubt over its future is believed to stem from the recent arrest of Hanoi People’s Committee chairman Duc Chung, who was closely involved in the running of the race.
Up to five other circuits are thought to be in the running to replace the race, including Istanbul Park, Imola, Algarve, Sepang or one of Germany’s tracks.”
Amazing foresight of Liberty to create a repeat space for the new one-off random “we can’t afford F1 but we have a really nice track you might like to race on sometime” retro round by doing a deal with a questionable race promoter!
Dieter Rencken (@dieterrencken)
9th November 2020, 22:22
RaceFans has NEVER broken an embargo, nor was any info in this story sent to the media. In this case I was given the base info last Friday by non-official sources and spent a lot of today tapping other sources. Do you honestly believe we would continuously be sent material under embargo if we constantly broke embargoes – as you suggest?
Joao (@johnmilk)
9th November 2020, 23:59
understood, you got your non-official sources and it was confirmed today with the press release from F1, good job
unless the embargo only applies to some, there was plenty of people breaking it today ;)
Matteo (@m-bagattini)
10th November 2020, 8:40
Neither Racefans staff itself can correctly use the comments on the site
Macca (@macca)
9th November 2020, 22:36
There’s a nice little trivia question for the future.
What racing venue was included in the official video game but never used in a championship calendar?
Si (@simislakkinen)
9th November 2020, 23:22
The N64 game had a cool track that went through a volcano. Having said that, surely there’s a bad guy out there somewhere with an elaborate volcano lair desperate to use F1 to prove to the world that they run a fair and legitimate regime, so fingers crossed it gets onto the calendar for real.
JC
10th November 2020, 0:34
Bernie has the spare cash and desire for TV time…
MacLeod (@macleod)
10th November 2020, 8:14
But he doesn’t have a vulcano…
bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
10th November 2020, 3:01
@macca That was my first thought, tbh it’s not much fun to drive around, I’m happy we’re keeping Interlagos though. It’s weird how such a little and somewhat ‘twisty’ circuit consistently throws up great races.
KaIIe (@kaiie)
10th November 2020, 8:08
F1’97 and the Sunob bonus track :P
Red Andy (@red-andy)
10th November 2020, 8:30
@macca This year is going to provide rich pickings for the pub quiz writers of the future. For example, “In which year were the Tokyo 2020 Olympics held?”
Joshua Miles (@miloa-j)
9th November 2020, 23:28
Somewhere in Asia/Middle East will probably fill the spot left by Vietnam. Malaysia or Turkey would likely be favourites at this stage. Also could be Fuji or India or even Buriram in Thailand??
SB12 (@sb12)
10th November 2020, 0:54
Fuji racetrack is owned by Toyota. As Toyota has not involve in F1 for some time already, I don’t see the track would be interested to come back to F1.
Joshua Miles (@miloa-j)
10th November 2020, 5:24
Yeah good point. I remember that when Toyota were still in F1 they had plans to alternate the race between Fuji and Suzuka, but when Toyota left the plans were shelved…
Jere (@jerejj)
10th November 2020, 7:24
@miloa-j India isn’t going to return anytime soon for tax reasons, which led to it getting axed in the first place.
STEVENHOLMES
10th November 2020, 6:49
How does the promoter of the Vietnam event get by the FIA to even secure a race then get to this? How is it even possible?
Would there be clauses in the contracts of those who sponsor or support this event in case of a non race issue, who is then responsible? Sounds like legal crap and big money will shape the verdict.
Dave
10th November 2020, 11:49
Probably shouldn’t have announced a Vietnam GP and then built the track at the first place…
Dale
16th December 2020, 4:41
I think you will find Vietnam will not allow people in unless they quarantine is also a factor,I live here and you can’t fly in let alone F1 logistics,the case with the official is fingers where they shouldn’t be
Jere (@jerejj)
10th November 2020, 7:23
”Efforts to relocate Brazil’s round of the world championship to a new circuit in the Deodoro area have been delayed due to concerns over the environmental implications of constructing the facility”
– My points about Rio aged well, LOL. I reckon Interlagos to get one more year as a stop-gap until the track in Rio is ready, although I’d rather not have a Brazilian GP at all.
As for the fourth paragraph: If any of the places mentioned would directly replace Vietnam at that time of year, hopefully, neither Hockenheim nor Nurburgring for climatic reasons nor Sepang because in this case, it’d be better to have it seven days after Melbourne, i.e.,
Australia March 21
Malaysia March 28
Bahrain April 11
China April 26 or the other way round for BAH/CHI.
If Algarve, hopefully, seven days before the Spanish GP also for logistical reasons, in which case Australia, Bahrain, and China each seven days later, and the same with Imola, although not as critical location-wise. Istanbul Park would be the most fitting replacement as a standalone on the last Sunday of April.
Pironi the Provocateur (@pironitheprovocateur)
10th November 2020, 7:25
Get rid of Catalunya finally, for goodness’ sake. The most predictable race for the past 8 years, terrible for racing.
Jere (@jerejj)
10th November 2020, 7:42
@pironitheprovocateur Agreed. I’d replace it with either Portimao or Mugello.
Balue (@balue)
10th November 2020, 9:18
@pironitheprovocateur Totally. One of the worst tracks ever.
Asanator (@asanator)
10th November 2020, 10:31
@pironitheprovocateur Agreed, but now they can milk that Alonso bandwagon for a couple of years longer so it stays.
Dave
10th November 2020, 11:28
Add Paul Ricard and Sochi. All these tracks are a specialist in failure.
Victor (@victorandrei1999)
10th November 2020, 9:03
Bring back Sepang please!
Dave
10th November 2020, 11:50
And Hockenheim and Nürburgring too!
Victor (@victorandrei1999)
10th November 2020, 16:10
I agree! :))
Yes (@come-on-kubica)
11th November 2020, 0:36
Viet Nam, you weren’t there man.
IMOLAFTW
11th November 2020, 10:21
Nothing wrong with 23 races provided those races include circuits we want like imola or portimao rather than saudi arabia.
Dale
16th December 2020, 4:47
Can anyone guarantee Melbourne go ahead,I’m flying in 20/2/2021 and have to quarantine for 2 weeks,let alone all the F1 teams and personnel,they had enough problems this year with cancellations