The Portuguese Grand Prix is set to be confirmed on the 2021 Formula 1 calendar in a meeting of the Formula 1 Commission on Thursday.
Racetrackmasters has learned the current vacant May 2 slot on the calendar is set to be taken by Portimao, the circuit that last year held the first Portuguese Grand Prix since 1996.
It had been hoped an announcement confirming the finalised calendar could be made sooner but a rise in coronavirus cases held up the process with F1 monitoring and evaluating the ever-changing situation.
Portugal was recently added to the United Kingdom’s ‘red list’ with travellers returning from the country required to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days. Unlike with previous travel restrictions, elite sportspeople are not exempt.
With the Spanish Grand Prix following directly after the Portimao weekend, however, it was unlikely personnel would have planned to return home between races, although it does mean some will stay in Europe until the quarantine period has elapsed.
2021 F1 calendar
28 March – Bahrain GP
18 April – Emilia Romagna GP
2 May – Portuguese GP
9 May – Spanish GP
23 May – Monaco GP
6 June – Azerbaijan GP
13 June – Canadian GP
27 June – French GP
4 July – Austrian GP
18 July – British GP
1 August – Hungarian GP
29 August – Belgian GP
5 September – Dutch GP
12 September – Italian GP
26 September – Russian GP
3 October – Singapore GP
10 October – Japanese GP
24 October – United States GP
31 October – Mexico City GP
7 November – Sao Paulo GP
21 November – Australian GP
5 December – Saudi Arabia GP
12 December – Abu Dhabi GP
