Turkey has been added to the revised 2021 Formula 1 calendar in place of Canada, championship organisers announced on Wednesday.
It is the latest change to the 2021 calendar following Australia’s move from March to November and the indefinite adjournment of the Chinese round.
The Canadian round had been due to take place at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, on Montreal’s Ile Notre Dame, on June 13, as the seventh round of the season.
Last year’s Canadian Grand Prix was postponed from its original June date before being cancelled altogether.
Formula 1 has not been able to secure an exemption relating to the required entry restrictions into Canada, owing to the pandemic, while there were also concerns over the related finances.
Event organisers have nonetheless secured the future of the grand prix for an additional two years, through 2031, having previously held a deal until 2029.
The event’s cancellation has been expected for a couple of weeks but its abandonment was only confirmed once Formula 1 had a replacement round tied up.
It means Turkey has received a reprieve for 2021 after being a surprise addition to the pandemic-hit 2020 calendar.
Last November’s round was plagued by cool and wet conditions, which led to minimal grip at the resurfaced Istanbul Park, with Lewis Hamilton clinching the title in an engrossing race.
Turkey previously welcomed Formula 1 between 2005 and 2011.
It means Turkey is now set to form a double-header on the calendar with Azerbaijan’s round, held around the streets of capital city Baku, scheduled for June 6.
Formula 1 has not ventured outside of Europe, Eurasia and the Middle East since the resumption of racing activities in July 2020.
The next grand prix outside of those regions is currently scheduled to be Singapore, on October 3, giving Formula 1 greater long-term visibility over the pandemic’s development.
Canada first joined Formula 1’s calendar in 1967 and the grand prix has been held in its current location since 1978.
Prior to the pandemic the Montreal-based round had only not featured in 1987 and 2009.
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