Spectators display a flag of Canada in the stands during the F1 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, Canada, June 7, 2019. /CFP
The Canadian Grand Prix scheduled for June 13 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal has been canceled for the second year in a row, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Radio reported on Thursday although Formula One said discussions remained ongoing.
With the spread of new COVID-19 variants and Canada battling to contain a third wave of the coronavirus, Montreal public health authorities concluded that even if run behind closed doors without spectators the risks were too high, reported the CBC.
F1 officials, according to the CBC, wanted to bypass the mandatory 14-day quarantine for the hundreds of staff, crew members and drivers and rely on private medical staff and have the entire operation run in a bubble.
The race is scheduled to take place immediately after Azerbaijan event, which is scheduled for June 6 in Baku and is due to go ahead after also being canceled last year.
"We are continuing our discussions with the promoter in Canada and have no further comment," an F1 spokesperson told Reuters.
The F1 website quoted a spokesperson for the Canadian promoter as saying the radio report referred to "a document of recommendations from public health.
"We as an organization have not had confirmation from our public health officials and won't comment until we get an official confirmation."
Media reports have suggested Turkey is on standby to be slotted in as Canada's replacement.
The Istanbul circuit is logistically convenient for freight coming from Baku and was brought in last year also at short notice to bolster a calendar ravaged by the pandemic.
Max Verstappen (C) driving the Red Bull racing car leads the rest of the field at the start of the race into the first corner during the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Bahrain, March 28, 2021. /CFP
After a thrilling duel at the season opener in Bahrain when Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished 0.74 seconds behind the Mercedes driver, six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has ready to resume his battle with Verstappen at the upcoming Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at the Imola circuit.
"We approach every weekend the same as we always have," Hamilton said on Thursday ahead of the event.
"We do what we do, we love the challenge. It's exciting for all of us that we do have such a challenge on our hands and it's not one that we shy away from," he added.
Lewis Hamilton driving the Mercedes AMG racing car on track during a practice race of the F1 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, April 16, 2021. /CFP
And the 23-year-old Verstappen appeared calm and philosophical about matters ahead of the second race of the fledgling season.
"I think it makes no sense to start smashing things, or throw things first of all," Verstappen said. "Of course when I crossed the line I was disappointed, but I think I've learned over the years that there is nothing lost after the first race."
"I think (Bahrain was) definitely an opportunity missed, but I think if we have the fastest car then it’s not going to matter, because then we have 22 races to finish in front of them," Verstappen said. "But we'll see about that."
(With input from agencies)