Formula 1 should abandon idea of 23-race calendar - at least for 2021

The 2021 Formula 1 season has been one to remember for fans and experts alike. The title battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen has steadily gone from respectful to intense in recent times. To top it off, the midfield battle remains tight as ever and there’s quiet optimism around the new regulations set to debut in 2022. But if there’s one thing that has cast a shadow over the season, it’s been the COVID-19 pandemic. While the pandemic effects have somewhat lessened around the world thanks to vaccination drives, that hasn’t stopped multiple races being cancelled. The Japanese Grand Prix is the latest race to be on that list of ‘called off races’.

While this is something that should be expected, what makes things complicated is the sport’s lofty plans. Coming into 2021, the plan was to hold 23 races through the year.

This would make this season the largest ever in terms of races held. The benefits to that are, of course, obvious. More races around the world not only adds to the global apppeal to the sport, it also adds to their revenue streams.

Yet the fact this was attempted in the middle of a global pandemic meant plans were always likely to be affected.

Formula 1 and cancelled races – a 2021 timeline

The season began with two planned races being postponed. The Australian GP and Chinese GP were meant to be round 1 and 3, respectively, of the season. Yet both were pushed back due to the COVID-19 situations in both nations.

The races then went from being postponed to called off altogether. But these wouldn’t be the last races to suffer such a fate.

The Canadian GP was called off due to quarantine issues and the Turkish GP – which returned as a one-off in 2020 – was set to take its place.

However, travel restrictions from Britain – where most F1 teams are based – to Turkey meant that race was also called off. Instead, Austria hosted a double header in an encore from 2020.

But that wasn’t to be the end of the cycle. The Singapore GP was also called off, as was the Japanese GP. Suddenly the Turkish GP was brought back to the calendar.

And the situation won’t likely end here either. F1 is set to host races in Brazil and Mexico in the coming months – yet both countries are on the UK government’s travel red list.

The US Grand Prix will be held in Texas, but the state is currently reeling from a new wave of cases. As things stand, the calendar remains very fluid.

Condensed calendar should be considered

The organisers themselves, meanwhile, are set to press ahead with a finalised calendar very soon.

“Formula 1 is now working on the details of the revised calendar and will announce the final details in the coming weeks,” said a statement on their website.

“Formula 1 has proven this year, and in 2020, that we can adapt and find solutions to the ongoing uncertainties and is excited by the level of interest in locations to host Formula 1 events this year and beyond.”

The real question, of course, is should they be looking at new solutions?

It’s worth noting that finding circuits willing to host races isn’t an issue. What will be an issue is coordinating the travel in ways that doesn’t burden the people involved in the sport.

Organising the movement of race cars, spare parts as well as the equipment needed for the race weekend will require advance planning. But advance planning counts for nothing since a spike in COVID-19 cases can render all plans pointless.

Thus, even if the organisers can fill out the calendar, it doesn’t make much sense to do so. The logistics involved will require a lot to make things work. And it matters little if races can get cancelled at the last minute anyway.

As things stand, 10 more races are set to take place, meaning the season will have 21 races. Given that fans have been present for most of these races, F1 should take that itself as a win.

The 23-race calendar, meanwhile, can be pushed back for 2022 when – hopefully – things start to get even better.