Formula 1 has confirmed plans for a Vietnam Grand Prix to be held from 2020, after signing a multi-year deal with the City of Hanoi and promoter Vingroup.
The championship has been linked to Vietnam for several years and last month it was revealed that negotiations were in their final stages, with a location having been sourced to the west of Hanoi.
On Wednesday it was revealed that the event has been pencilled in for an April date and will take place on a 22-turn 5.5km semi-permanent circuit.
Gallery: In-depth look at proposed Vietnam GP layout
Formula 1 has worked with Hermann Tilke's company to produce an anti-clockwise layout in the vicinity of the My Dinh National Stadium.
The layout has been designed with the intention to "create a unique hybrid layout, fusing a street circuit’s characteristics with a permanent countryside track layout within the confines of the city’s topography."
Turns 1/2 have been inspired by the opening sequence of the Nurburgring's layout, Turns 12 to 15 have been designed with Monaco's first section in mind, while Suzuka's Esses have been the inspiration for Turns 16 to 19.
It is hoped that the combination of long straights, including a 1.5km full-throttle zone, alongside more technical sections will make set-up a challenge for teams.
The pit lane misses out the last and first corners, reducing the time it will take for a pit stop, prompting officials to hope that a variety of strategies can be successfully run.
“We are delighted to announce that Hanoi will host a Formula 1 Grand Prix,” said Formula 1 Chairman Chase Carey.
“Since we became involved in this sport in 2017, we have talked about developing new destination cities to broaden the appeal of Formula 1 and the Vietnamese Grand Prix is a realisation of that ambition.
“We are thrilled to be here in Hanoi, one of the most exciting cities in the world right now with such a rich history and an incredible future ahead of it.
“This is the perfect formula for Grand Prix racing and I look forward to this becoming a real highlight of the F1 calendar.
“Our Motorsport team, working in collaboration with the City of Hanoi and promoter Vingroup, has worked to enable a circuit that will not only test the drivers but also ensure that our fans enjoy the racing spectacle.
“We are really looking forward to seeing Formula 1 cars speeding around the streets of this fantastic city from 2020.”
Liberty Media initially planned to introduce a Miami Grand Prix for 2019 but those proposals have been deferred indefinitely.
Vietnam’s addition could lead to a record-breaking calendar, though Grands Prix in European heartlands of Spain, Britain, Germany and Italy are not contracted beyond 2019.
Officials at Zandvoort have been pushing for the Dutch Grand Prix to return for 2020 – though significant funding and upgrades to facilities are required – while plans for a street event in Danish capital Copenhagen have yet to be fully developed.
