The Hanoi Formula 1 race will restart later this year.

After a delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Formula 1 race is likely to be rescheduled for November 2020. This information was announced on the afternoon of July 6th in Hanoi, where Mr. Nguyen Duc Chung, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, stated that the focus will be on programs to stimulate domestic consumption.

To achieve this, the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports must develop a plan to organize cultural events to attract domestic and international tourists, increasing revenue for the tourism industry in particular and other related consumer sectors in general. Some of the events currently being planned include: celebrating the 1010th anniversary of Thang Long, commemorating the Liberation Day of the Capital… and the Formula 1 race.

This event was originally scheduled to take place last April; however, due to the outbreak and complex developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, along with border closures and social distancing regulations, Hanoi had to postpone it indefinitely. Now that the pandemic is well under control, Hanoi is considering resuming the F1 race. When conditions are safe regarding the pandemic, the race could take place at the end of November 2020.

“The city is carefully evaluating and negotiating with the copyright holder to continue hosting the Formula 1 (F1) race at the end of November 2020, while also continuing to prepare programs and projects for the 31st SEA Games and the 11th Paragames,” said Mr. Nguyen Duc Chung.

It was previously reported that Hanoi had received registrations from 100,000 international tourists to come to Vietnam to watch the Formula 1 race. It is expected that on the day of the event, at least 40,000 domestic spectators will travel to Hanoi to watch the event live.

At the meeting, Mr. Chung affirmed that the Covid-19 pandemic always needs to be considered to protect the health of the capital's residents, but at the same time, many other plans are also needed to restore and develop the economy.

Reuters reported on June 3rd that Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey said this year's season might be postponed but no races would be canceled. If a driver tests positive for Covid-19, the team will use a replacement driver.

The 2020 Formula 1 season had a total of 22 races, but due to the pandemic, five races were postponed in Bahrain, Vietnam, the Netherlands, China, and Spain. The organizers have rescheduled the race dates, with the Austrian Grand Prix starting on July 6th. Following that, races will be held in Hungary (July 19th), Great Britain (August 2nd and 9th), Spain (August 16th), Belgium (August 30th), and Italy (September 6th).

F1 organizers have announced that previously postponed races will be rescheduled between September and November, including the Europe-Asia (Russia race), Asia (Vietnam and China), and the Americas (Canada, the USA, Mexico, and Brazil). The season is expected to conclude after two races in Bahrain and the UAE in December.

My Tong