Australia is set to commence a record 23-race Formula 1 calendar in 2021, according to a draft revealed to teams on Monday.
Following the decimation of this year’s schedule due to Covid-19, Liberty Media has voiced optimism that next year would see a return to normalcy, at least in terms of the venues.
And that has been confirmed in this proposed calendar as it reportedly consists of all 22 Grands Prix originally set for 2020, plus a new event in Saudi Arabia on the streets of Jeddah.
According to Motorsport, the championship will begin at Albert Park in Melbourne on March 21, followed by a stop in Bahrain seven days later.
This backs up comments by Australian GP chief Andrew Westacott after a report had claimed the race could be moved to October.
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China and Vietnam would follow before Spain, which had been at risk of being dropped, kicks off the usual European schedule.
Azerbaijan maintains its revised June date in a double-header with Canada, while Hungary will once again be the final race before a four-week summer break.
After that, the dates are less clear, but it is understood the European calendar may end with a triple-header consisting of Monza, Zandvoort and Spa.
This would mark a shift for the returning Dutch GP from the May date it was set to have this season, and is likely as a result of organisers wanting as much time as possible to ensure fans can attend the race as usual.
Singapore, Japan and Russia would form another triple-header, likely much to the annoyance of teams.
Then there’s more uncertainty as the Brazilian GP is currently set to move from Interlagos to Rio de Janeiro, but local opposition to the proposed circuit in Deodoro could result in a one-year postponement or an alternative venue being found.
Finally, the new race in Saudi Arabia will form a desert double in the Middle East to end the season, with Abu Dhabi set to bring down the curtain once again.
At this point, no plan is thought to be in place to keep the new races included in the revised 2020 calendar on standby in case of further Covid disruption.