While the FIA still remains committed to staging 23 races in 2021, F1’s new chief executive Stefano Domenicali says there could be fewer grands prix in the future with some held in rotation.
The former Ferrari team boss and CEO of Italian sports car manufacturer Automobili Lamborghini believes that number is achievable ... although the future may hold different scenarios.
He said: “I would say that this equation will solve itself by the fact that if we’re able to deliver an incredible product, we may go to a situation where maybe we can go back to a fewer number of races.
“Then maybe the chance of a rotation is possible for certain Grands Prix, keeping a focus on different areas. This is something that is in our plan to think about carefully this year, getting ready for when the world is normal again.”
The sport planned 22 rounds last year but ended up with only 17, with showcase street races such as Monaco and Singapore cancelled.
Some of the circuits – such as Italy’s Mugello and Portugal’s Algarve circuit – hosted races for the first time while others returned after long absences.
Domenicali said he was speaking daily with race organisers and all were keen to go ahead with the calendar.
“Of course, we need to be flexible enough to understand that maybe in the first part of the season we may have some events with no public or with restricted numbers,” he added. “But what I can assure our supporters and our fans is that really we want to make sure that the season is there.”
This year, Bahrain will be hosting the 2021 Formula 1 season opener instead of Australia which was moved to November.
Italy’s Imola has been brought in as the second round with China looking uncertain. China has not hosted any international sporting events since Covid-19 started in Wuhan.
The third race on May 2 remains open, with speculation that Portugal’s Portimao circuit may take the spot.
The FIA, Formula 1’s parent body, also announced that the Brazil Grand Prix is set for November 7 and Saudi Arabia’s first-ever Grand Prix will be held on December 5.
This is also the first time since 2010 that the season starts and ends in the Middle East, with the season-closer in Abu Dhabi, rescheduled to December 12.
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