F1 drops 2021 Singapore Grand Prix due to Covid restrictions

Thousands descending on the country could have violated travel rules and strained test-and-trace

The Singapore Grand Prix has reportedly been removed from the 2021 F1 calendar due to the Covid-19 pandemic restricting travel to the country.

Unlike many countries, Singapore has responded to the Coronavirus outbreak by imposing strict immigration restrictions which F1 and Singapore authorities have agreed make it impossible to hold the event in the city state.

The thousands of people due to descend on Singapore for the race would have put too great a strain on the city state's test-and-trace system.

While F1 has yet to issue an official statement, a spokesperson told the BBC: "We continue to work with all promoters during this fluid time and have plenty of options to adapt if needed."

This is the second year in a row that the Singapore event has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus.

The race series’ organisers have yet to confirm which track will replace Singapore’s Marina Bay Street Circuit, which was scheduled to host the GP on 1-3 October. According to the BBC, Turkey is being considered as a replacement. There could also be a revival of the Chinese Grand Prix.

A double header at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, is also a possibility, as the track owners recently offered F1 the option of two races at the venue in the middle of October. F1 owner Liberty Media is an American company.

While F1 will hope that Singapore is the last race to be cancelled this season, there are warnings that other Grand Prix may drop from the rota. These include the Mexico and Brazil GPs, whose countries are currently dealing with some of the world’s highest Covid infection rates.

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