Formula One could be returning to the Portimao circuit after Formula One was given the green light for the Portuguese track to fill the vacant slot on May 2nd.

Formula One will return to the rollercoaster that is Portimao later this year after the series was given the green light for the Portuguese venue to host round three of the season.

The opening three races to the F1 season has had a reshuffle, with Australia being temporarily postponed, being replaced with Bahrain and Imola. F1 will then remain in Europe for round three as they return to the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve.

There have been question marks over the possibilities of racing in Portugal, after a sharp rise of COVID-19 cases in the vicinity, but following talks between F1 and race organisers, it is understood that both parties are prepared to go ahead.

It is understood that teams will be made aware of the calendar change on Thursday (11th February) in a meeting of the F1 commission.

However, the decision is not simple after the United Kingdom currently has Portugal in the ‘red list’ meaning anyone returning must quarantine for ten days, with no exemptions made. This means English F1 personnel will not return home before the Spanish Grand Prix on May 9.

However, that does also affect returning home from Spain; personnel will not return to the UK on Monday (10th) as the ‘ten-day isolation period’ for being in Portugal is not over.

F1 will discuss the calendar changes further in Thursday’s meeting as well as casting votes and debating on a host of important topics for the sport, possibly including the Sprint Race.

The F1 2021 season is set to get underway on March 28th under the lights in Bahrain.

Source: Autosport
Image credit: LAT Images