The Portuguese Grand Prix is a step closer to featuring on the 2021 Formula 1 calendar, with the sport affirming its support for the Portimao event on Thursday.
The first meeting of the F1 Commission in 2021 saw a number of matters discussed, including the current ‘TBC’ event listed as the third round of the calendar.
The event has been left vacant by the Vietnamese Grand Prix, which was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19 and dropped this year amid the corruption scandal involving the Hanoi’s People’s Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chun, who was arrested and charged for appropriating state secrets.
Portimao made its F1 race debut on the heavily disrupted 2020 schedule, which saw Lewis Hamilton take a record-breaking 92nd grand prix win.
Adjustments have already been made to this year’s calendar, with Bahrain opening the Championship on March 28, before Imola makes a return for round two, three weeks later.
Formula 1 has now approved plans for Portimao to hold the third round of the campaign, on May 2, a week before the Spanish GP.
“The group was updated on the ‘TBC’ space on the current version of the 2021 calendar,” read a statement from F1.
“It is the intention of Formula 1 to fill the position with a race at Portimao in Portugal on the dates already held in the calendar.
“The final agreement is still subject to contract with the promoter.
“Robust COVID-19 protocols enabled Formula 1 to run 17 events in 2020 and will enable us to run a World Championship again in 2021.
“While changing circumstances may require flexibility, the FIA and Formula 1 are working at all levels from government to local organisation to ensure that the calendar goes ahead as planned.”
