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Australian Grand Prix, MotoGP cancelled for 2021

Updated: Major motorsports in Victoria have been cancelled this year due to the ongoing pandemic.

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Updated:

The Australian Formula One Grand Prix  and the MotoGP at Phillip Island have been cancelled for 2021.

The Victorian government has blamed the decision on the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic — including a “slower than forecast” rollout of the Commonwealth vaccination program and subsequent caps to international traveller intake.

The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula said, “This is the reality of the pandemic – but until we get much higher vaccination rates we cannot return to more normal settings.

“We are getting to work on plans for 2022 immediately and can’t wait to welcome the world’s best drivers and riders and all motorsport fans back to Albert Park and Phillip Island.”

Australian Grand Prix Corporation Chairman, Paul Little said, “We’re deeply disappointed that for a second consecutive year, both MotoGP and Formula 1 fans won’t be able to see the world’s best riders and drivers compete at the wonderful Phillip Island and Albert Park Grand Prix Circuits.

“We appreciate the challenge Australia faces with current international travel restrictions and the importance of vaccinations.

“I would like to reassure our motivated and professional staff, suppliers and partners, as well as the Victorian tourism and major events community that we will work tirelessly to deliver these iconic events in 2022.”

Australian Formula 1 McLaren driver, Daniel Ricciardo added, “It’s a huge disappointment for all of the drivers that we won’t be coming down to Australia in November, but we understand the reasons.

“For me personally, I can’t wait to have the chance to race at home again, and it’ll be even sweeter when we do because it’s been so long. Fingers crossed things can change for 2022 and we get to see the awesome fans at Albert Park again and put on a good show for them.”

Earlier:

Seven News is reporting the 2021 Australian Grand Prix will be cancelled.

The race is scheduled to be held in Melbourne in November after being postponed earlier this year due to the pandemic.

Seven reports long negotiations over a quarantine hub for drivers has broken down, with an official announcement expected this afternoon.

Race officials reportedly put a proposal to the Victorian Government asking racing teams to fly in and out of a strict bubble because a two-week hotel quarantine wasn’t feasible as it meant drivers would miss other races overseas.

The Herald Sun is also reporting the Australian MotoGP race, scheduled for October 24, is off too.

10 has the rights to both the Australian Grand Prix and Australian MotoGP which would likely entail a refund or rights extension were they not to proceed.

The Australian Grand Prix was last held in 2019 after the 2020 event was cancelled as the pandemic hit Australia.

Source: ABC

10 Responses

  1. It took like 6 yrs to overcome the Spanish flu in the 1900s …
    Hoping this one will be shorter….
    I love my F1 …but really …priorities people……🙏

  2. Site managers, construction crews, delivery drivers, marque installers, bartenders, waitstaff, security guards, cleaners, television production crew, on air talent, radio crew, radio on air talent, etc, all those people ( plus more) who depend on employment with the GP.All let down, again. Enough is enough!

    1. Yep and most of those people also do the Spring Racing Carnival and Australian Open Tennis to which work has also been lost, yes the Aust Open happened however not as it usually was, same with Melbourne Cup Carnival. Very bleak times for those those who work the Gig Economy, many of which in Catering are Uni Students who rely on those events to get through a year, a lot of those Marquee installers come from Shop Fitters as well. So they have lost a ton of work as well, as at the least here in Victoria with Retail Shops, Pubs, Clubs, TAB’s and Gaming Venues locked-down completely each time work has (obviously) dried up on all fronts, including for the TV Installers who also do those places and the Marquees.

  5. Australia is hardly “a hermit kingdom”. From au.motorsport.com/f1/news/latest-2020-calendar-confirmed-cancellations/4843849/
    All cancelled F1 races:
    Venue Original date
    Albert Park, Australia 15 March
    Shanghai, China* 19 April
    Zandvoort, Netherlands 3 May
    Monte Carlo, Monaco 24 May
    Baku, Azerbaijan 7 June
    Montreal, Canada 14 June
    Paul Ricard, France 28 June
    Marina Bay, Singapore 20 September
    Suzuka, Japan 11 October
    Austin, USA 25 October
    Mexico City, Mexico 1 November
    Interlagos, Brazil 15 November

    1. Your list is for 2020 season, not 2021. So far this season there have been 9 races of a 23 race season. Monte Carlo, Baku and Paul Ricard have all proceeded and most of the others on your list are still on track to do so too.

  6. Australia is on the way to becoming a hermit kingdom like North Korea due to this government’s incompetence. We have to get our country open again. Yes ScoMo it is a race!

    1. Agree. The F1 community is managing to enter and leave many countries around the world without the need for a 14 day quarantine. In Australia, football teams have shown you can move between states, stay isolated and not require a 14 day quarantine period, so we know it can be done. Ultimately our slow vaccine roll-out is the real issue here, but with proper planning the F1 circus should be able to enter our shores without a 14-day quarantine period.

      1. Vaccinations is one thing but living with COVID is another, even after the magic number of Australian people is fully vaccinated opening international borders will inevitably introduce other strains of the virus, ordinary folk, some who will be old, frail or infirm, are not living in an expensive isolation bubble like the F1 racing organisation is, so some preparation for the long term is required.

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