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elbourne will retain its status as the season opener for the Formula 1 (F1) World Championship, with the first race of the 2021 season scheduled for March 21 at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit.

F1 was forced to cancel the Melbourne event this year at the very last minute due to COVID-19, after McLaren recorded a positive COVID-19 test just before the competition was set to commence.

The competition has now announced its biggest ever calendar for 2021, with a record-breaking 23-round championship, with the season set to end in Abu Dhabi on December 5, 2021.

F1 chairman and CEO, Chase Carey, said the season opener will be a safe and enjoying event for Australian fans.

“We are excited to announce our 2021 provisional calendar and delighted we will be starting our season with our long-term partners in Melbourne,” Carey said.

“Andrew Westacott (Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO) and his team do an incredible job and we know the season opener at Albert Park will be one that fans can safely enjoy after an unprecedented 2020,” he said.

Westacott also said plans will be worked on to help the potential for fans to attend the creation of Albert Park as a COVID-safe venue.

“We’re thrilled that the 2021 FIA Formula 1 World Championship will commence at its traditional home here in Melbourne,” Westacott said.

“We continue to work closely with health authorities and the Victorian Government as we develop our plans for fan attendance, which will be announced when finalised.

“We’re adopting a sensible, adaptable and flexible approach, ensuring that a safe environment for fans and participants is our top priority.

“Our massive parkland venue with 10.6km of track frontage provides us with the perfect opportunity to create a COVID-safe venue,” he said.

In a statement announcing the provisional calendar for the 2021 season, F1 said they expect spectators to return for 2021.

“The plans for 2021 have involved extensive dialogue with all promoters and their local and national authorities at a time of ongoing fluidity related to the global pandemic,” F1 said in the statement.

“As we have said before, we expect fans to return for the 2021 season and for the calendar to look similar to the originally planned 2020 season,” F1 said.