Formula One releases new draft calendar: 23 races to happen in 2021
CGTN
Racers compete in the F1 Grand Prix of Portugal at Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao, Portugal, October 25, 2020. /CFP

Racers compete in the F1 Grand Prix of Portugal at Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao, Portugal, October 25, 2020. /CFP

Formula One teams received a draft calendar for the 2021 season at the commission meeting on Monday, according to RaceFans.

One more race was reportedly added to the usual 22-race schedule and the new competition is supposed to happen on a street circuit in Jeddah, the second-largest city in Saudi Arabia. It will be the first time for the largest Arab nation in the Middle East Asia region to host the world's top car racing event.

The season opener will take place at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Australia in March but the pre-season testing may be held in Bahrain.

The Chinese Grand Prix was scheduled on April 11, followed by the first Vietnam Grand Prix in Hanoi. F1 would have made its debut in Vietnam earlier this year if it weren't for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes W11 on track in the F1 Grand Prix of Portugal at Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, October 25, 2020. /CFP

Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes W11 on track in the F1 Grand Prix of Portugal at Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, October 25, 2020. /CFP

The biggest change to the 2021 draft calendar was the Dutch Grand Prix, which was moved from May to September. The Dutch race will begin the first of a pair of triple-headers. The European F1 campaign will start in Spain in May.

The second-half schedule for 2021 remains unclear but the second round of triple-headers may happen during the three races in Singapore, Russia and Japan.

There are still many question marks over the 2021 season. For example, the Brazilian competition may be moved to a new circuit planned in Rio de Janeiro, but local environmental groups are exerting pressure on it. F1 wanted to hold a race in Miami but not only was the event was postponed multiple times, it was not on the draft calendar.

Moreover, F1 wants to have as many spectators as possible in the races. Nonetheless, as the coronavirus came back to hit more countries around the world, especially in Europe, attendance may have to be restricted for public security.