Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Formula 1 Grand Prix of Canada, scheduled for June 13 in Montreal, has been officially canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Turkey will instead take its place in the 2021 calendar.
“Due to the health measures put in place to fight COVID-19, the Canadian Grand Prix has been canceled for the second year in a row,” Canadian authorities said in a statement.
“The event will return next year, however,” and an agreement was reached between the organizers and the governments of Canada and Quebec to extend the event for two years until 2023.
F1 authorities said in a brief official statement that international travel restrictions imposed on Canada were preventing anyone involved in the race from entering the country without undergoing a 14-day quarantine.
Read also: Canadian GP canceled due to pandemic, CBC reports
Instead, Turkey will host the seventh race on the calendar from June 11 to 13, a week after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
“I would like to thank the promoters and the Canadian authorities for all their efforts over the past few weeks, but the travel situation made our plans impossible,” said Stefano Domenicali, CEO of F1.
“I would also like to thank the promoters and the Turkish authorities for their willingness to organize a Formula 1 race.”
The ruling puts an end to the lack of clarity in recent weeks as to whether the hundreds of employees who have had to come from overseas will be able to run in Canada.
Quebec and Canadian authorities have discussed the possibility of organizing races without spectators or granting a quarantine exemption.
After being regularly contested since 2005-2011, the Turkish GP at Istanbul Park also returned to the calendar last year and saw Lewis Hamilton clinch the seventh world title of his career.
Also read: The Japanese GP remains at Suzuka for the next three years.
Read also: Wolff thinks Mercedes can be “lenient” at the start of the season
Read also: Verstappen wins the chaotic GP of Emilia-Romagna
Reporter: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Editor: Irwan Suhirwandi
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