THE Japanese Grand Prix has been AXED for the 2021 season due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The race at the iconic Suzuka circuit was scheduled to go ahead on October 10 as the third and final leg of a triple-header following Russia and Turkey.
But it has now been cancelled at the request of the Japanese Government due to the pandemic.
Japan recently hosted the delayed 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, with the Paralympics running in the capital from August 24 until September 5.
But with cases of Covid-19 soaring in the country, the Japanese Government has moved to scrap the Formula One race from the 2021 calendar.
The decision comes in spite of F1 chiefs promising to follow stringent rules for travelling teams.
Bosses had agreed to compulsory chartered flights from Istanbul to Japan and testing on arrival, as well as strict security to ensure no team members left their hotel – eating only at the circuit.
On the decision, an F1 statement read: “Following ongoing discussions with the promoter and authorities in Japan, the decision has been take by the Japanese Government to cancel the race this season.
“[This is] due to ongoing complexities of the pandemic in the country.
“Formula 1 is now working on the details of the revised calendar and will announce the final details in the coming weeks.
“Formula 1 has proven this year, and in 2020, that we can adapt and find solutions to the ongoing uncertainties.
“[We are] excited by the level of interest in locations to host Formula 1 events this year and beyond.”
The cancellation of the Japan GP could cause a few problems though, thanks to Turkey – the race immediately before Suzuka – being on the UK’s red list for travel.
F1 2021 calendar: practice times, dates and racetrack info
F1 chiefs had tweaked the schedule so that all UK-based personnel would eat up seven days of their ten-day window post-Turkey at Suzuka, before spending a further three days in Japan and flying home.
It’s therefore likely another race will be thrown into the schedule to allow the 1,000-plus British-based teams and staff won’t be forced to head home and self-isolate.
It’s believed Qatar is being considered for a race, while a second Bahrain GP is on the table, to replace Japan.
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