Formula 1 says it is assessing the situation and will provide more details in the coming days after Turkey was added to the United Kingdom’s red list.
Formula 1 announced last month that Turkey, which returned to the pandemic-hit schedule in 2020, would be taking Canada’s place on the 2021 calendar.
That came in the wake of Formula 1 being unable to receive an exemption to the 14-day quarantine imposed upon travellers by Canada.
Formula 1 is due to visit Istanbul Park for the race on June 13, a week after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, as the seventh round of the season.
But on Friday the UK government added Turkey to its red list, effective Wednesday (May 12).
UK citizens returning from countries on the red list are required to quarantine at a government-approved hotel for 10 days.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps stressed that red list countries “are those that should not be visited except in extreme circumstances.”
Seven of the 10 Formula 1 teams, along with personnel from FOM’s broadcast crew and other assorted personnel, are based in the UK.
“We are aware of the announcement made by the UK government regarding travel restrictions for Turkey and are assessing the situation and will provide more details in the coming days,” read a statement issued by Formula 1 on Friday evening.
Personnel returning to the UK from events in 2021 have had to isolate at home for 10 days, with two mandatory tests during that period.
Portugal was on the UK’s red list during the winter months and plans were drawn up for personnel to remain in Spain – to where they were always going to travel – beyond the 10-day cut-off, or head straight to Monaco, in order to avoid hotel quarantine.
But such measures were avoided when Portugal was removed from the red list in mid-March.
Formula 1’s 2021 calendar has already undergone changes with Australia’s season-opener delayed from March to November and China’s planned April round indefinitely postponed.
Formula 1 has not raced outside of Europe or the Middle East since the pandemic began in March 2020.
The decision to place Turkey on the red list also puts this month’s Champions League final into focus, with UK-based Manchester City and Chelsea due to face each other in Istanbul on May 29.
