Japanese F1 GP cancelled for 2021 due to Covid ‘complexities’

DPA Tokyo This year’s Japanese Formula One Grand Prix has been cancelled because of “ongoing complexities” related to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers s...

DPA Tokyo This year’s Japanese Formula One Grand Prix has been cancelled because of “ongoing complexities” related to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers said on Wednesday.The race had been set to take place in mid-October but even the fairly successful hosting of the Tokyo Olympics has not been enough to change minds.Last year’s event was also dropped because of coronavirus.“Following ongoing discussions with the promoter and authorities in Japan the decision has been taken by the Japanese government to cancel the race this season due to ongoing complexities of the pandemic in the country,” F1 said in a statement.Although coronavirus cases have been rising in Japan they are still not as high as many venues still on the calendar.“Formula One is now working on the details of the revised calendar and will announce the final details in the coming weeks,” the statement added.“Formula One has proven this year, and in 2020, that we can adapt and find solutions to the ongoing uncertainties and is excited by the level of interest in locations to host Formula One events this year and beyond.” F1 had planned a record 23 races this season despite the pandemic and looks set to try to replace the Japanese race at Suzuka with another grand prix.It had been due to take place as part of an ambitious triple header with the Russian Grand Prix on September 26, the rearranged Turkish Grand Prix on October 3 and Japan on October 10.That date is now vacant but F1 proved last season that it could be flexible and rustle up alternative venues at relatively short notice.Last season started in July instead of March but F1 still managed 17 races.This season the Australian Grand Prix already had to be scrapped because of coronavirus. Turkey had initially replaced the dropped Canadian GP and was set to take place in June. It was then postponed until October where it is due to replace the axed Singapore race.A spare grand prix date on November 21 also has no official venue as yet with the inaugural Saudi Arabian race following on December 5 before the season climax in Abu Dhabi on December 12.F1 is currently on a mid-season break after 11 races, with defending champion Lewis Hamilton leading the standings from Max Verstappen.The next race is in Belgium on August 29.Champions Mercedes to pull out of Formula E after 2022 season Meanwhile, world champions Mercedes are joining Audi and BMW by withdrawing from the Formula E electric series, the carmaker announced on Wednesday.Mercedes will quit at the end of next season in August 2022 and intends to then focus fully on Formula One as a “development laboratory” for road car production, a statement said.Just last weekend, the manufacturer secured the Formula E world championship titles in the drivers’ and team standings with Nyck de Vries.The exit of Mercedes is a further setback for Formula E, which has been heavily promoted by motorsport governing body the FIA as the world looks to electric cars to help combat climate change.Fellow German car firms Audi and BMW had already said their goodbyes to Formula E at the end of this season. Mercedes had only been involved with its own team since 2019.Formula E resources at Mercedes are to be switched to the road car brand as the company seeks faster electrification. It wants to become fully electric before the end of the decade.The recent world championship success will go down “as a historic milestone in the long racing history of Mercedes-Benz,” said Toto Wolff, the automaker’s head of motorsport.“Now we will do everything we can to ensure that we successfully complete our Formula E adventure in Season 8,” the Austrian added.