Brendan Lines January 5, 2021

Formula 1’s opening round of its bumper 23-round 2021 season is in doubt as COVID-19 restrictions demanding 14-day quarantine for international visitors may postpone the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne set for March 21.

The cancellation of last year’s event triggered delays to the 2020 season commencing, Local Goals understands the race is likely to be postponed until later in the year, in the hope of eased restrictions — making the Bahrain Grand Prix the replacement season-opener on March 28.

Melbourne now prepares to host the Australian Open tennis in January, the city’s first international sporting event since coming out of its 112-day lockdown, amid strict two to three week quarantine periods for competitors — six time Open champion Roger Federer has already withdrawn from the event.

It’s believed Formula 1 will be subject to the same rules, which wont allow for enough time between pre-season testing on March 2-4 for teams to travel and complete the quarantine period.

“It hasn’t been postponed yet – and I don’t expect an official announcement today or in the next few days,” said Sky Sports News F1 reporter Craig Slater.

“But one insider has told me that it is impossible that it can take place under the current COVID-19 restrictions in force in Australia.”

Any rescheduling of the race to a later date is limited to very small gaps in the calendar. With round three on the calendar TBC for April 25 and the Spanish Grand Prix on May 9 still subject to contract, that may be the only slot available until August after the European summer break.

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation issued a statement today that read:

“The Australian Grand Prix Corporation continues to work closely with the Victorian Government and Formula 1 on conditions and arrangements relating to the staging of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne in 2021.  Further detail will be provided upon finalisation of arrangements with all parties in the coming weeks.”

The sport released it’s provisional calendar in November last year, only confirming the race in Melbourne would go ahead some weeks ago. The sport believed the race was possible after the Victorian Government’s handing of the pandemic and the sport’s own tried and tested protocols after completing its 2020 season.

Just yesterday FIA president Jean Todt warned the 2021 campaign will not be “a normal season” and the sport must brace for more changes to the calendar.