Formula 1 confirmed the Japanese Grand Prix has been cancelled as uncertainty over the calendar post-September continues.
Despite the recent Olympics in Tokyo, both MotoGP and WEC had already called off planned October events in the country due to Covid-19 restrictions.
And on Wednesday, F1 followed suit meaning Honda will not get a farewell race at Suzuka before their departure from the sport at the end of this season.
"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," a statement read.
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"Formula 1 is now working on the details of the revised calendar and will announce the final details in the coming weeks.
"Formula 1 has proven this year, and in 2020, that we can adapt and find solutions to the ongoing uncertainties and is excited by the level of interest in locations to host Formula 1 events this year and beyond."
A second race at Austin's Circuit of the Americas has been touted as a likely replacement, although a new rise in Covid cases in Texas due to the Delta variant could potentially create a new roadblock.
Elsewhere, the Turkish GP, set for October 3, is also facing renewed uncertainty, as the country remains on the UK red list along with other planned F1 destinations Mexico and Brazil.
In Sao Paulo, Governor Joao Doria is confident the race at Interlagos will go ahead but has requested a one-week delay from the current November 7 date to November 14.
“If this request is accepted, for us, the inflow of revenue into the city and the state increases a lot,” he said at a press conference this week.
“We may have an expansion of up to 25 percent in Formula 1 revenue in Sao Paulo, reaching $140 million in tickets in the city and this also generates more jobs.”
Granting that delay would create a dilemma for F1 because, though Brazil could form a doubleheader with whichever race takes over the November 21 date vacated by Australia, it would cause a problem for the Mexico City GP due to the red list requirement for travellers to quarantine for 14 days upon returning to the UK from the Central American nation.
On a positive note, Governor Doria is not making the date change obligatory for the Sao Paulo race to go ahead.
“There is no such expectation [that it could be cancelled],” he added. “I even spoke with the F1 director [Stefano Domenicali]. There is no possibility.
“Only if there is an unexpected situation in every way. We are very calm about the F1 realisation. It only remains to confirm the date.”
Brazil is also currently set to be the third race to use the new Sprint Qualifying format which was used at Silverstone and will be again at Monza next month.
