With the news that the Canadian Grand Prix will be cancelled for a second consecutive season due to the restrictions in place in Canada surround the coronavirus pandemic, Formula 1 bosses have insisted that the other two races planned for North America remain on the schedule at this time.
The Canadian race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has been dropped from the calendar and replaced by a race at Intercity Istanbul Park in Turkey, with the venue hosting a race for a second consecutive season.
However, with Canada losing its race, fears that the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas and the Mexican Grand Prix at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez would follow have been eased, with Formula 1 still expecting to return to North America in October.
“Following the specific news regarding Canada, Formula 1 wants to be very clear that there is no change to the races in Mexico and the US later this season and expect them to go ahead,” said a statement from Formula 1 earlier this week.
“We have been working closely with the promoters and they are ready to put on a great show and we look forward to being there later this season.”
Neither race took place in 2020, and for the Mexican fans, it denied them the chance to see a confident and competitive Sergio Pérez in action. Hopes are that Pérez will be able to fight at the front of the field this year in Mexico City as he races in 2021 for Red Bull Racing.
As proved in 2020, Formula 1 will have back up plans in place should any other race fall foul of restrictions surrounding COVID-19, with venues such as the Nürburgring in Germany and the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello in Italy likely to step up as they did last season to host a race.
