The first Vietnam Grand Prix, which was originally scheduled to take place in April this year, has finally been cancelled, seven months after it was postponed. It is the final outstanding race from the original 2020 F1 calendar to be called off as a result of the pandemic.
The new addition to the calendar was among the first to be postponed due to the global spread of Covid-19 earlier in the year. Two months ago F1 confirmed its plans for the remaining races of 2020 did not include the event at a new street track in Hanoi.However the promoters have only now conceded the race will not go ahead this year. In a statement they acknowledged the extremely difficult but necessary decision” had been taken to cancel the race.
“We are unable to welcome the most exciting and prestigious motorsport series on the planet to Vietnam in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Vietnam Grand Prix Corporation CEO Le Ngoc Chi.
“This was a very difficult decision for all of us to make but ultimately it was the only solution after carefully reviewing all safety criteria as well as the efficiency under current conditions. We thank you for your support and understanding during this uncertain period.”
VGPC promised a full refund for those who purchased tickets to the race.
2020 F1 season
- Pictures: Wrecked chassis from Grosjean’s Bahrain fireball crash to go on display
- Bottas vs Rosberg: Hamilton’s Mercedes team mates compared after 78 races each
- F1 revenues fell by $877 million in Covid-struck 2020 season
- Hamilton and Mercedes finally announce new deal for 2021 season
- F1 audience figures “strong” in 2020 despite dip in television viewers
Jere (@jerejj)
16th October 2020, 8:01
Well, this had 100% given for quite a while, at the very latest when the altered race schedule got finalized, so redundant.
Jere (@jerejj)
16th October 2020, 8:03
‘Had been’
Retired (@jeff1s)
16th October 2020, 8:03
Promoters for 2019 at this kind of stupidity. Less relevant news this year. First Vietnam has thousand other issue to solve, and why Vietnam. Oups, dollar bills.
chimaera2003 (@chimaera2003)
16th October 2020, 9:59
@jeff1s Does seem that they may have chosen this moment as it was the most advantageous from a cashflow perspective.
If the race has not been officially cancelled then your customers will struggle to claim a refund. Although on the other side their suppliers could use the same excuse back at them.
Jon Thereyougo (@jon-thereyougo)
16th October 2020, 10:20
could well be insurance-related. Like concert promoters had to advertise shows they were sure won’t happen just to give no reason to the insurance to refuse to pay.
Dave
16th October 2020, 8:31
Took way too long to announce the cancellation.
bosyber (@bosyber)
16th October 2020, 10:48
As @jon-thereyougo mentions above, timing might very well be insurance related (and with that, probably question of bankrupt or not for the track; and it’s similar with why it wasn’t cancelled by FOM too I think), which remains silly and stupid, but hardly something we should blame this organizer for right now.
jlb
16th October 2020, 8:49
LOL
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
16th October 2020, 10:02
Sad to hear this after all the effort and money put in to get the track and the facilities ready. Hopefully F1 will get to race there next year.
Frasier (@frasier)
16th October 2020, 14:28
1124 infections and 35 deaths in Vietnam and they cancel the race?
Has the whole world gone completely mad?
tielemst
16th October 2020, 14:46
I think they kind of prefer 1124 infections, 35 deaths and no race to 2,500,000 infections, 100,000 deaths and a great weekend of F1?
Frasier (@frasier)
16th October 2020, 16:54
You don’t really understand numbers do you?
jCsup
17th October 2020, 8:14
Vietnam has been praised for their handling of this virus precisely because they take it much more seriously than other countries. This cautious approach is exactly why they have the numbers that they do.
I mean, sure, it’s a one-party state, people are alive but probably worse off economically, and most challenging of all, the only way to really keep the virus out is to shut the borders completely (basically impossible); so there could be debate about whether or not theirs is the best possible strategy, but that will only be definitively settled years from now.
Speaking as someone living in a country that’s a laughingstock for it’s handling of the virus, I’d recommend the Vietnamese stay their course.
Patrick P
16th October 2020, 15:42
And in other news, an elderly Argentinian gentleman living in Rome has been identified as Catholic.
Lewisham Milton
16th October 2020, 17:16
Bear confirms what it does in the woods.
Hope we see some sensible approaches to street & temporary circuits in 2021 – including Melbourne – to get as many events on as possible, even if they’re on unusual dates.
NeverElectric
17th October 2020, 0:36
“Vietname”??