The F1 Japanese Grand Prix has once again been cancelled owing to the surge of COVID positive cases in the country
Although the Tokyo Olympics managed to go ahead without any untoward incident as stringent bubble norms ensured no athletes tested positive for COVID, its a risk Formula 1 are looking to avert. With the cases in the country on an uptick across the course of the last month, the governing council has decided it prudent to take the Japanese GP F1 away from this year’s calendar.
COVID-19 Results In F1 Japanese Grand Prix 2021 Being Cancelled
For the second year on a bounce, the race will no longer go ahead as planned in the country to leave motorsports enthusiasts in the country devoid of action yet again. The race was to be held in mid-October later this year, the third of a triple-header proceeding the Russian and Turkish GP.
COVID has wrecked havoc in the ongoing season as well with the Japan GP joining Australia, Canada, China and Singapore as the races to have been cancelled this year. The Turkish GP was truncated as well previously before being rescheduled.
BREAKING: The 2021 Japanese Grand Prix has been cancelled
速報：2021日本グランプリ中止#JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 #F1 pic.twitter.com/LtdJtiYY2E
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 18, 2021
“Following ongoing discussions with the promoter and authorities in Japan the decision has been taken by the Japanese government to cancel the race this season due to ongoing complexities of the pandemic in the country,” F1 said in a statement.
While a new venue is yet to be announced as the replacement for Japan, ardent viewers believe it to be Bahrain. F1 has been way too eager to conduct its races in the country and it won’t be surprising if we see the Bahrain GP being scheduled for October.
The 2021-22 season which is currently in the midst of a summer shutdown will be recommencing next week with the Belgian Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen resume their fiery and hotly contested rivalry for the top spot this campaign.