Singapore’s October grand prix has been cancelled for the second year in a row called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, race organisers have said in a statement.
This year’s night race at the Marina Bay circuit in Singapore had been scheduled for October 1-3 but immigration restrictions in relation to coronavirus means it will not go ahead.
“To cancel the event for a second year is an incredibly difficult decision, but a necessary one in light of the prevailing restrictions for live events in Singapore,” said Colin Syn, deputy chairman of Singapore GP.
“We would not be able to deliver a full event experience fans have come to expect over the years, while safeguarding the health and safety of our fans, contractors, volunteers and staff.”
Singapore joins Canada off this year’s F1 calendar and is unlikely to be the last to fall victim of the pandemic with Japan, Brazil, Mexico and Australia all with doubts over them from the original list of 23 rounds.
The Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne was originally scheduled to take place on March 21st at Albert Park, was pushed back to November 19-21 due to the pandemic.
Travel to Australia is heavily restricted, and the Canadian GP was cancelled after Formula One teams refused to agree to the quarantine restrictions imposed by the Canadian government.
The Australian Grand Prix is due to run two weeks after the Brazil round, with the South American nation one of the hardest hit by the virus in the world. Australian organisers on Saturday remain hopeful they will find a way for the race to go ahead as planned. “The decision by Singapore is not particularly relevant to our situation,” according to a government spokesperson.
Last year, the Victorian government cancelled the Australian Grand Prix on the Friday morning of the race weekend, as the world began to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Turkey, which had been due to replace Canada but was then also scrapped, would be a possible stand-in with talk also of China making a return and a second potential race in the United States.
Austin, Texas, is due to host the US Grand Prix in late October but could step up with a double-header although there has also been speculation that Indianapolis is under consideration.
Formula One faces a separate challenge with the Dutch authorities telling Formula One that all working staff attending the race at Zandvoort in September must be vaccinated against COVID-19.
