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Formula 1 has confirmed its intention for the Portuguese Grand Prix to take up the vacant ‘TBC’ slot on the 2021 calendar on May 2, following a meeting of the F1 Commission.
The race was revived in 2020 after being absent from the F1 calendar since its last appearance in 1995, and was staged at the Algarve International Circuit in Portimao that proved popular with drivers and fans.
It has long been expected to take up its place on the calendar, but while an agreement in principle is understood to have been in place for some time there had been uncertainty given the impact of COVID-19 on Portugal, which is currently in a period of national lockdown. This led to the possibility of a second race being held in Bahrain in its place, although this was always only a fallback option.
The race has not yet been definitively confirmed because, as an F1 statement puts it, “the final agreement is still subject to contract with the promoter”. But given the intent to host the race has now been officially announced, it is now effectively part of the 2021 calendar on a provisional basis.
F1 has re-iterated the importance of the COVID-19 protocols it adopted last year and stressed it is continuing to liase with event promoters and national governments to ensure the 2021 calendar is delivered despite the ongoing pandemic.
“Robust COVID-19 protocols enabled Formula 1 to run 17 events in 2020 and will enable us to run a world championship again in 2021,” said F1’s statement.
“While changing circumstances may require flexibility, the FIA and Formula 1 are working at all levels from government to local organisation to ensure that the calendar goes ahead as planned.”
Portugal is currently among the country on the UK’s ‘red list’, which means anyone returning directly to the UK would either need to spend 10 days in hotel quarantine on arrival. While last year F1 personnel were granted exemptions from such quarantines, this will not happen in this case.
The Spanish Grand Prix follows the Portuguese Grand Prix, meaning that personnel could travel onward to Barcelona on the next weekend then return to the UK without quarantine once they have spent 10 days outside of Portugal. However, given the Monaco Grand Prix follows on May 23, UK-based personnel could remain in mainland Europe for the duration of those three events.
Latest F1 calendar
March 28: Bahrain
April 18: Imola
May 2: Portimao (subject to promoter agreement)
May 9: Barcelona
May 23: Monaco
June 6: Baku
June 13: Montreal
June 27: Paul Ricard
July 4: Red Bull Ring
July 18: Silverstone
August 1: Hungaroring
August 29: Spa
September 5: Zandvoort
September 12: Monza
September 26: Sochi
October 3: Singapore
October 10: Suzuka
October 24: Austin
October 31: Mexico City
November 7: Interlagos
November 21: Melbourne
December 5: Saudi Arabia
December 12: Abu Dhabi
