Formula 1 under palm trees - season finale in Abu Dhabi
Photo: AHMED JADALLAH / REUTERSFormula 1 has announced the last four races for its replacement calendar in the Corona season. After a nine-year break, the racing series will return to Istanbul on November 15th, according to a statement on Tuesday. The Turkish Grand Prix had already been held on the route from 2005 to 2011. If the world federation Fia finds the Istanbul Park suitable for Formula 1, the fourth last race of the season will now be held there. After that, two more guest appearances in Bahrain on November 29 and December 6 and the season finale in Abu Dhabi on December 13 are planned. There the season would have ended in the regular calendar.
This means that 17 races will take place this year - without having to master the difficult logistical challenges of races in North or South America. Originally 22 races were planned before the season had to be suspended for months due to the corona pandemic. In order to receive the complete payments from the TV rights holder, 15 races have to be driven.
The Grand Prix in Shanghai, China, which had only been postponed indefinitely, was finally canceled on Tuesday. The year was an "unprecedented challenge" for the racing series, said CEO Chase Carey.
In the further course of the season, Formula 1 also wants to enable spectators to return to some routes. The details are still to be agreed with the organizers. Finally, it was still open whether a limited number of fans could be there in the stands at the Eifel race at the Nürburgring in October. The next Grand Prix will be held this weekend in Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium.
Icon: The mirrorkrä / dpa