Formula One has confirmed this year’s Canadian Grand Prix has been cancelled and will be replaced by the Turkish Grand Prix on June 11-13.
Earlier this month, it was reported that the Canadian Grand Prix would be cancelled for the second year in a row after F1 was not granted an exemption from Canada’s 14-day quarantine period for international arrivals in the country.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is due to take place the weekend before Canada’s date, meaning it would be impossible for drivers, teams and the rest of the F1 paddock to attend both races and complete the mandatory 14-day quarantine in Canada.
On Wednesday, the sport confirmed the cancellation of the event and revealed the Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul Park as Montreal’s replacement on the agenda.
A two-year extension to Canada’s race-hosting deal was also announced, with F1 saying it was working with the race promoter “to ensure those with tickets from 2020 and 2021 races get the options of a refund or to transfer their tickets to next year’s race”.
“While it is disappointing we cannot be in Canada this season we are excited to confirm that Turkey will host a Grand Prix in 2021 after an amazing race last season,” F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali stated. “I know all our fans are excited by the dramatic start to the season and Turkey is a great circuit that delivers great battles on the track.
“I want to thank the promoter and authorities in Canada for all of their efforts in recent weeks but the travel situation made our plans impossible. I equally want to thank the promoter and authorities in Turkey for their ongoing willingness to host a Formula One race that shows the huge interest in our sport and the hope from many locations to have a Grand Prix.
“We have had very good conversations will all the other promoters since the start of the year and continue to work closely with them during this period.”
Turkey hosted its first race in nine years last season when the venue was among those selected to increase the number of races on F1’s pandemic-affected calendar.
The circuit outside Istanbul was opened in 2005 and hosted races for seven straight years until 2011. Last year’s race took place in wet conditions in November and saw Lewis Hamilton secure victory as well as his seventh world title, equaling Michael Schumacher’s record.
