Several Formula 1 media outlets, among them Autosport, are reporting on a piece published by Racefans (formerly F1 Fanatic) about a possible cancellation or movement of the Australian Grand Prix in March – Coupled with the news the Dutch F1 Grand Prix could be cancelled if specific conditions are not met.
Australian Grand Prix scheduled on March 21st, which should be the first race of the 2021 season, might be postponed or even cancelled once again due to Australian Corona Virus COVID 19 restrictions.
No exceptions to this quarantine are possible and Melbourne is preparing to host the Australian Open Tennis Tournament in early February, while it has already been agreed that all players must observe the two-week quarantine from the moment they arrive on Australian soil.
Indeed it’s expected that these rules will be in place for at least 40 days.
Should the Australian Grand Prix be postponed later in the season, the Bahrain Grand Prix, scheduled for March 28th, 2021, would then become the opening round of the 2021 Formula 1 championship, while the GP could also be relocated for the winter to assist with logistics.
Further, the start of construction of the Albert Park street circuit layout in Melbourne is expected to start in January, which leaves only a very small amount of time for the organisers and F1 to make a decision.
Meanwhile – after the cancellation of the first Dutch GP in the 2020 season, due to both the pandemic and the organisers’ desire to have spectators in the stands, the situation is back again in 2021.
Grand Prix director Jan Lammers remains bullish stating that without an audience and therefore behind closed doors, there will be no weekend.
Lammers thanks to the approval and administration of the Covid-19 vaccine in Holland, he is more confident than last year, but states “I don’t want to anticipate too much a matter that is still hypothetical at the moment.” to racingnews365
“I think, however, that if I now see what is happening in terms of the virus, I see that in conjunction with the administration of the vaccine there will also be a drop in infections. The drugs are becoming better, so if we follow the current trend, I think we should be able to organise the event.”
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“Formula 1 management knows where we stand. In fact, I share that opinion. After all, they see the enthusiasm that prevails here. The Dutch GP is also the result of entrepreneurial courage. That is why the Grand Prix is here, but it is also driven by the enthusiasm around Max.”
To conclude Lammers says: “At the end of the day, we can only organise the race with the public, so it cannot be done without fans.
“We simply don’t think it’s right and FOM has supported this view. The race has to take place with an audience and I think that’s what will happen.”
Currently, the Dutch GP is scheduled for the 5th of September.
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