Montreal (AFP)

As in 2020, the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Canada passes its turn due to the pandemic and it is that of Turkey which replaces it, on June 13, for the 7th round of the year.

"Due to international travel restrictions in Canada, it has become impossible for Formula 1 to enter the country without a mandatory 14-day quarantine," World Championship promoter Formula 1 said on Wednesday.

An announcement also made by the authorities of Quebec and Montreal, one of the Canadian provinces most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and where the GP was to be held on June 13.

The event will return to Montreal on the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit in 2022, said the Quebec authorities, announcing an agreement providing for the GP to be held in Montreal until 2031, i.e. two more years to compensate for the two successive cancellations.

For several weeks, uncertainty had hovered over the holding of the event due to the arrival, with the Formula 1 paddock, of several hundred people from abroad.

Several discussions were underway between the authorities of Quebec and Canada, on the possibility of organizing the event behind closed doors or that of lifting the mandatory quarantine for visitors.

In the end, it turned out to be impossible and the Turkish GP will be on the calendar.

The event will be held at Istanbul Park, which has hosted F1 eight times, first between 2005 and 2011, then last year, when it had already been added to a messed up calendar.

A race won by the Briton Lewis Hamilton, who had that day won his 7th world champion title, equaling the record of legend Michael Schumacher.

- 23 races on the program -

As F1 will be in Baku for the Azerbaijani GP on June 6, Turkey offers a clear logistical advantage, while Germany was also being considered as an alternative to Canada.

Officially, F1 still intends to organize the record number of 23 Grands Prix but must continue to deal with the pandemic.

The season started in Bahrain on March 28, when it was due to start a week earlier with the Australian GP, ​​pushed back to November 21.

After the first two races and before that of Portugal on Sunday 2 May, Hamilton (Mercedes) is at the top of the standings, just one point ahead of the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull).

In 2020, the season had been reduced to 17 races out of the 22 scheduled, one more than the current record of 21.

© 2021 AFP