F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Turkish GP back on 2021 calendar as Singapore substitute

Formula 1 will race at Istanbul Park after all this year following Turkey's reinstatement on the 2021 calendar in place of the canceled Singapore Grand Prix.

The event at Marina Bay was scrapped earlier this month due to Covid-19 restrictions while Turkey - which was set to replace the Canadian Grand Prix - also fell off the schedule after it was included on the UK's "red list" of countries for which a mandatory 10-day quarantine in a UK-approved hotel is currently imposed on travelers.

Scheduled in early October, after Sochi and before Suzuka, Istanbul Park will form the middle part of a triple-header.

As such, Turkey was deemed a viable replacement option for Singapore as teams will return to the UK after the Japanese Grand prix and therefore outside of the 10-day window for red list countries.

Read also: Hamilton 'excited' over British GP crowd return, but urges caution

"After discussions with other promoters we are confident that we will be able to travel to the following race under our strict safety protocols," said Formula 1 in a statement.

"The Formula 1 community will continue to travel this season with stringent safety measures that has allowed us to travel safely this season. So far this season we have conducted over 44,000 tests with 27, positive cases a rate of 0.06%, with most coming during the earlier part of the season."

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula1, said: "We are delighted to be coming back to Turkey to Intercity Istanbul Park circuit. We hope to see another fantastic race again in one of the best tracks in the world.

"We want to thank the Intercity Istanbul Park management and Mr. Vural Ak for his personal efforts to make this event to happen. We have shown that we can continue to adapt and there is huge interest in our sport and the hope from many locations to have a Grand Prix.

"We have had very good conversations with all the other promoters since the start of the year and continue to work closely with them during this period."

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.