Japanese Grand Prix cancelled due to rise in COVID-19 cases

[RAK]

BBC reporting it now - wonder if the race will be replaced by another one or if the teams will have some extra preparation pre-US Grand Prix.

[Rob Dylan]

I hear that there will be a revised calendar released soon. I'm hoping for breaks, but as usual I'm cynical that we'll get four consecutive races at Abu Dhabi

[Wallio]

I have a feeling this was known internally for sometime. the official "F1 Experiences" page had ticket packages up very briefly for a Texas GP before being pulled.

[dinizintheoven]

Likely as not, F1 has already raced in Japan for the last time ever.

Definitely, F1 has already raced in Australia for the last time ever.

And to think that, once upon a time, someone on this forum - I wonder who it was? - made an offhand comment with the implication that Bernie Ecclestone was so drunk with lust for the acquisition of hard cash that he'd book a Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia with no concern given to that country's reputation that's even more chequered than the chequered flag - but, come on, even he wouldn't do that, surely? And yet, here we are, in the regime of his successors, about to do exactly that.

The Taliban Grand Prix - coming to the streets of Kabul in 2029, with Formula E trial events in the 2027-28 and 2028-29 seasons. You heard it here first. And on that day, you will refer to me as Nostradamus.

Following F1 is becoming more and more of a case of Stockholm Syndrome with every passing year.

[dr-baker]

Likely as not, F1 has already raced in Japan for the last time ever.

Definitely, F1 has already raced in Australia for the last time ever.

And to think that, once upon a time, someone on this forum - I wonder who it was? - made an offhand comment with the implication that Bernie Ecclestone was so drunk with lust for the acquisition of hard cash that he'd book a Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia with no concern given to that country's reputation that's even more chequered than the chequered flag - but, come on, even he wouldn't do that, surely? And yet, here we are, in the regime of his successors, about to do exactly that.

The Taliban Grand Prix - coming to the streets of Kabul in 2029, with Formula E trial events in the 2027-28 and 2028-29 seasons. You heard it here first. And on that day, you will refer to me as Nostradamus.

Following F1 is becoming more and more of a case of Stockholm Syndrome with every passing year.

So how long until a Grand Prix in North Korea, Mondas, or Skaro?

[Nessafox]

Well at least North Korea has an actual car industry. (no joke, they really have)

[James1978]

Please, NOT another venue having to take 2 races back to back please! (23 races is too many anyway!)

[dr-baker]

Well at least North Korea has an actual car industry. (no joke, they really have)

And Skaro build lots of individual transportation devices...

[FMecha]

I have a feeling this was known internally for sometime. the official "F1 Experiences" page had ticket packages up very briefly for a Texas GP before being pulled.

An email received from an /r/F1 user seems to disconfirm it.

[Alextrax52]

So Japan can hold an Olympics that last 16 days over multiple places no problem but can’t hold a Grand Prix weekend lasting 4 days in one location and that has a much tighter COVID bubble?

Someone help me understand how that makes sense

[mario]

So Japan can hold an Olympics that last 16 days over multiple places no problem but can’t hold a Grand Prix weekend lasting 4 days in one location and that has a much tighter COVID bubble?

Someone help me understand how that makes sense

It seems the financial and political repercussions from not holding the Olympics would be much more than the cost of not holding the Japanese GP, hence why that has gone ahead and the race has not.

There are also reports that Liberty Media are now looking to hold a race in Qatar in November to replace the Australian GP, helping them to maintain that 23 race calendar. It does make you wonder whether that might be a one off, or if they could use this as a means of adding that circuit to the calendar to pad it out.

[Rob Dylan]

Nothing can stop that inevitable 23 race calendar! Liberty will host a thousand Abu Dhabi races if that's what it takes

At the very least Qatar is somewhere different (for F1 at least). Variety is at least welcome.

[RAK]

Looks like Qatar gets its Grand Prix. I can't exactly say I'm happy about yet another slave-driving Middle Eastern petrostate getting a Grand Prix over established tracks, but I can't say I'm surprised either.

[Rob Dylan]

The sub-heading

Formula 1 has cut its schedule to 22 races this season...

sounds like a parody headline from 20 years ago when they started expanding the calendar. 22 races in a year is cutting back from the original plan of 23, and it will still be the most races ever done in a single year. I can't imagine the teams and their families are complaining about this.

[dr-baker]

. I can't imagine the teams and their families are complaining about this.

I hope that's sarcasm, because I definitely can imagine the complaints!

Unless you mean complaints about the cancellations. First time, I read it as no complaints about there being a record number of races...

[dinizintheoven]

As a good friend of mine on the other side of the Atlantic said:

If you want a picture of the future, imagine a clown honking a horn at a human face... forever.

[Nessafox]

. I can't imagine the teams and their families are complaining about this.

I hope that's sarcasm, because I definitely can imagine the complaints!

Unless you mean complaints about the cancellations. First time, I read it as no complaints about there being a record number of races...

The Baker hurt himself in his confusion

[dr-baker]

. I can't imagine the teams and their families are complaining about this.

I hope that's sarcasm, because I definitely can imagine the complaints!

Unless you mean complaints about the cancellations. First time, I read it as no complaints about there being a record number of races...

The Baker hurt himself in his confusion

Baker needs a cuddle from his mummy...

[CoopsII]

It’s lucky these tracks don’t make a lot of money from F1 (thanks Bernie) as we’d possibly see a few shut down permanently if they relied on it. Ironic.