The F1 calendar has already been changed and we are only 13 days into the new year. While it was widely expected that change would occur, it is slightly surprising that it has happened this early into the year.
Testing usually takes place in Barcelona, but this season it is expected to be moved to Bahrain ahead of the season opener.
As you probably could work out, Bahrain isn’t usually the season opener but will take on the honour this season after the Australian Grand Prix was postponed and rescheduled to November 21.
Imola also makes a return to the calendar after being one of the replacement races in 2020, with the race taking place on April 18, with the ‘TBC’ Grand Prix the following round on May 2, with this race expected to be in Portimao, Portugal which also found itself drafted for the 2020 season.
The Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona will take place on May 9, with the Monaco Grand Prix returning on May 23, after not being able to run during the 2020 season.
The Azerbaijan and Canadian Grand Prix return to the calendar as well, after being unable to run as well as the French Grand Prix that follows (we are all excited for France aren’t we?)
The revised 2020 season opener, the Austrian Grand Prix, returns to its more traditional place on the calendar, with the race taking part July 4.
The British Grand Prix at Silverstone will take place on July 18, before the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 1 rounds out the opening half of the F1 season.
Following the summer break, the Belgian Grand Prix takes place on August 29, before the Dutch Grand Prix has a second attempt at a return on September 5. The second Italian race of the season takes place September 12, followed by the Russian Grand Prix on September 26.
The Singapore Grand Prix returns on October 3, with the Japanese Grand Prix taking place a week later on October 10.
The United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas takes place on October 24, with the Mexican Grand Prix the following weekend on October 31. The Brazilian Grand Prix completes this triple header with that race taking place on November 7.
As I stated earlier in the article, the Australian Grand Prix takes place on November 21, with the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix taking place on December 15.
The season will come to a close on December 12 with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
If all these races go ahead it will be a huge achievement for F1, but with things still difficult and countries changing policies all the time, this is not the final calendar of the season. I could see a few back-to-back European races at Austria and Great Britain again and maybe even Bahrain to ensure that the season can get off to the best start possible.