Turkey replaces canceled Canadian Grand Prix

Turkey will replace Canada on this year’s Method 1 calendar following the June thirteen race in Montreal was cancelled on Wednesday for the 2nd yr in a row due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method 1 stated it had prolonged Montreal’s contract by two decades to take into account the cancellations, securing the race until eventually 2031.

The race had been scheduled for the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on the weekend following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and Turkey’s Istanbul circuit will be logistically easy for air freight coming from Baku.

The Turkish race returned very last yr for the 1st time due to the fact 2011 and also at shorter notice to bolster a calendar ravaged by the pandemic.

Vural Ak, chairman of Istanbul circuit operator Intercity, stated spectators would be welcome and hoped the race would lead to a very long-time period deal.

“We have a single of the most fascinating circuits in the world, we definitely want our individuals and our international visitors to be part of this excitement as effectively,” he stated.

“Many thanks to the pandemic steps and endeavours our state has carried out, we strategy to put tickets on sale as shortly as possible.”

There ended up no races in the Americas or Significantly East very last yr, with the diminished, 17-round time done entirely in Europe and the Center East and some circuits holding a lot more than a single grand prix.

F1 BUBBLE

Method 1 has operated in a bubble due to the fact the pandemic, with groups and team consistently examined and lots of vaccinated although most races have been held at the rear of shut doorways, and is aiming for 23 grands prix this yr.

Far more than 78,000 COVID-19 tests done very last time generated only 78 positive effects and there have been 14 from a lot more than 12,000 so significantly this yr.

The sport had hoped to stop by Canada with no a necessary 14-day quarantine but a 3rd wave of the virus thwarted individuals ideas.

“I want to thank the promoter and authorities in Canada for all of their endeavours in latest weeks but the travel problem created our ideas impossible,” stated chief government Stefano Domenicali.

“I equally want to thank the promoter and authorities in Turkey for their ongoing willingness to host a Method 1 race that reveals the large fascination in our sport and the hope from lots of destinations to have a Grand Prix.”

Very last year’s wet and slippery grand prix at Istanbul Park was held in November and generated a single of the highlights of the time, with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton clinching his history-equalling seventh world title.

Method 1 stated it would function with the Canadian promoter to refund or transfer tickets.

The race is the 2nd cancellation of the yr, following China, although Australia has been moved from March to November. The up coming two races in Portugal, this weekend, and Spain are with no spectators.

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