Both meetings have been deemed untenable because of the pandemic, but Portimão and Imola have been drafted in to bolster the opening of the season, which will now begin in Bahrain. Australia was due to open the season in Melbourne on 21 March with China on 11 April. F1’s plan was to hold 23 races this year and Bahrain will now host the first on 28 March. The Portuguese GP in Portimão, which held its first F1 race last season very successfully, is expected to be held on the 2 May – the slot left open after the Vietnamese GP was ruled out for 2021 by the promoters. The sport will not host more than the 23 races planned so finding a slot for China will be dependent on other race dropping out.

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