(UTVNEWS | COLOMBO) – The Canadian Grand Prix has been cancelled and will be replaced on its 11-13 June date by a race at Turkey’s Istanbul Park track.
It is the second successive year the Montreal event has been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Travel restrictions made it impossible to enter Canada without a mandatory 14-day quarantine, said an F1 statement.
Meanwhile the contract for a race on Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has been extended by two years to 2031.
Canada is experiencing a rise in cases, with Ontario – neighbouring province to Quebec – particularly badly affected.
Turkey returns for a second successive year as a stand-in race because of disruption caused by the pandemic.
Last year, it returned to the calendar for the first time since 2011, and was the event at which Lewis Hamilton clinched his record-equalling seventh world drivers’ title.
F1 president Stefano Domenicali said: “While it is disappointing we cannot be in Canada this season, we are excited to confirm that Turkey will host a grand prix in 2021 after an amazing race last season.
“I want to thank the promoter and authorities in Canada for all of their efforts in recent weeks but the travel situation made our plans impossible.”