Vietnamese Grand Prix

The Vietnamese Grand Prix (Vietnamese: Giải đua Việt Nam[1]) is a proposed Formula One motor race that was first due to take place in April 2020.[2] The race was initially postponed and later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the inaugural edition of the race postponed to 2021.[3] The Grand Prix was removed from the 2021 calendar because of the arrest – on corruption charges unrelated to the race – of Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung.[4]

Vietnamese Grand Prix
Hanoi Street Circuit
Race information
Circuit length5.613 km (3.488 mi)
Race length308.715 km (191.826 mi)
Laps55

History

Plans for a race in Vietnam were first explored by former Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone, who abandoned the idea as there were already four races in East Asia at the time (the Malaysian, Singapore, Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix). Ecclestone also acknowledged that the failure of the Korean and Indian Grands Prix left him doubtful of the long-term viability of a race in Vietnam.[5]

The idea was revived after Liberty Media purchased the commercial rights to the sport from CVC Capital Partners in January 2017. The Vietnamese Grand Prix was announced in November 2018, becoming the first new race under Liberty Media's ownership.[6] The race would join the existing Grand Prix held in Southeast Asia, the Singapore Grand Prix.

The inaugural Vietnamese Grand Prix was initially scheduled to be held on 5 April 2020 as part of a multi-year contract during the 2020 Formula One season, but was then postponed and later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] The race was also omitted from the provisional 2021 calendar, published in November 2020, following the arrest, on corruption charges, of Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung who was one of main supporters involved with the event.[7][8]

Circuit
Main article: Hanoi Street Circuit

Formula One Grand Prix races were intended to be held on a 5.613 kilometres (3.488 mi) temporary street circuit on the streets of Hanoi. The circuit, going anticlockwise, was designed by Hermann Tilke in collaboration with City of Hanoi authorities.[9] The circuit was initially to feature a hybrid of public roads and a purpose-built section which was planned to be opened to the public in the future.[10] An additional corner was later added to the third sector of the circuit by organisers for safety reasons, making a total of 23 turns.[9]

References
  1. "Giải đua xe Công thức 1 tại Việt Nam | F1 Vietnam Grand Prix 2020". www.f1vietnamgp.com.
  2. "Formula 1 pre-season testing dates and race calendar confirmed for 2020". Formula1.com. Formula One World Championship Limited. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  3. "Cancellation of the 2020 Vinfast Vietnam Grand Prix". Vietnam Grand Prix. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  4. Andrew Benson (9 November 2020). "Vietnamese Grand Prix dropped from 2021 F1 schedule". bbc.com. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  5. Coch, Mat (9 October 2018). "F1 could add Vietnam to 2020 calendar". Speedcafe. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  6. "Vietnam to host Formula 1 Grand Prix from 2020". Formula1.com. Formula One World Championship Limited. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  7. "Vietnamese Grand Prix dropped for 2021" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  8. Benson, Andrew (10 November 2020). "Vietnamese Grand Prix dropped for 2021". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  9. "Vietnam adds extra corner to F1 circuit". motorsport.com. Motor Sport. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  10. Herrero, Daniel (7 November 2018). "Vietnam secures 2020 Formula 1 berth". speedcafe.com. Speedcafe. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
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