Lyla Lindsey
The COVID-19 pandemic and the travel restrictions that followed forced F1 to make changes to its calendar. In 2020, the racing season started late, and many of the events outside of Europe had to be canceled. In 2021, Britain was not allowing travel to Turkey, so the Turkish Grand Prix was postponed, resulting in two events being held in Austria. The races were held at the same track on back-to-back weekends but were named differently—the Austrian Grand Prix and the Styrian Grand Prix.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of F1 races in Austria in 2020 | 2 |
| Name of the second race in Austria | Styrian Grand Prix |
| Reason for 2 races in Austria | Travel restrictions due to COVID-19 |
| Location of the races | Red Bull Ring |
| Country where the races were originally planned | Turkey |
| Number of races F1 managed to arrange in 2020 | 17 |
| Number of countries where the 17 races were held | 12 |
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What You'll Learn
COVID-19 restrictions in Turkey
As of June 1st, 2022, COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in Turkey. Thus, passengers arriving in the country are not required to present proof of their vaccination status or PCR test results. However, it is important to note that entry requirements can change rapidly, so checking for the latest Turkey travel updates a few days before your trip is advisable.
Before the restrictions were lifted, Turkey had a four-tier, colour-coded system for classifying individual provinces and municipalities based on local COVID-19 transmission risk and imposing restrictions accordingly. During the first two weeks of Ramadan in 2021, the country tightened its domestic COVID-19 restrictions to avoid an increase in infection rates due to group gatherings. A nationwide weekday curfew was imposed, with residents required to stay at home from 19:00 to 05:00, except for essential work or medical emergencies. Additionally, intercity travel was banned during these hours, and cafes, restaurants, and teahouses were restricted to takeout and delivery services. All events, such as weddings and personal celebrations, were also suspended until May 12th.
International travellers to Turkey previously had to undergo specific procedures. All incoming passengers, except those in transit, were required to register via an online form within 72 hours before travel and undergo checks for COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival. They also had to provide a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours before their flight or ferry's departure. Those who had visited the UK, Denmark, Brazil, or South Africa within ten days before arriving in Turkey were mandated to quarantine for 14 days in a government-selected facility and undergo a second COVID-19 test.
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Unique race names
The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the world of sports, and Formula 1 was no exception. In 2020, the F1 racing season started late, and many races outside of Europe were cancelled. The following year, in 2021, Britain imposed travel restrictions on Turkey, leading to the postponement of the Turkish Grand Prix. As a result, Formula 1 decided to hold two races in Austria, making it the season opener. This was not the first time F1 had encountered such a situation, and they were quick to rearrange their calendar.
The two races in Austria were held at the same track on back-to-back weekends, a first in the history of the sport. The races were run at the Red Bull Ring circuit in Spielberg, and each race required a distinct name. As per F1 regulations, both races at the same venue could not be called the Austrian Grand Prix. Hence, the second race was named the Styrian Grand Prix, after the region where the circuit is located, namely Styria.
The Styrian Grand Prix was not the first instance of a uniquely named race in F1. The sport has a history of adopting odd race titles when a country hosts more than one Grand Prix in a season. For example, Imola hosts the San Marino Grand Prix despite not being in the microstate. Additionally, Las Vegas hosted the inventively-named Caesars Palace Grand Prix.
In recent years, F1 has considered various options to navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic, including holding races without fans, using the same circuit twice, and even having multiple races on the same weekend. While the idea of a sprint race in Austria was floated, it ultimately did not come to fruition. However, F1 introduced the Sprint Qualifying format in 2021, showcasing their willingness to experiment and adapt to changing circumstances.
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Reduced travel
The COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent travel restrictions forced F1 to rip up its original calendar and come up with a new schedule for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. The 2020 season started late, and many of the events outside of Europe had to be canceled. In 2021, Britain was not allowing travel to Turkey, so the Turkish Grand Prix was postponed, resulting in two events being held in Austria.
Holding two races in Austria reduced the need to travel, which would have reduced the logistical headache for F1. In 2020, F1 ended up trying to run 15 races. In the end, they managed to arrange 17 races in 12 countries.
In 2020, F1 held three same-venue double-headers, including two races at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. The races were held on back-to-back weekends and were known as the Austrian Grand Prix and the Styrian Grand Prix. Each F1 Grand Prix requires a distinct name during the season, so the second race was named after the region in which the track is located, Styria.
In 2021, F1 held two races in Austria, with the Styrian Grand Prix held on 25-27 June and the Austrian Grand Prix held the following week.
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Financial reasons
The COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent travel restrictions forced F1 to rip up its original calendar and come up with a new schedule for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. In 2020, F1 managed to arrange 17 races in 12 countries.
In 2021, the pandemic continued to cause travel restrictions, and F1 again had to adapt its schedule. This included postponing the Turkish Grand Prix and replacing the original dates with another circuit. As the Austrian Grand Prix was scheduled for the weekend immediately following the Turkish Grand Prix, it made logistical sense to hold the postponed race in Austria.
F1 also considered the financial implications of holding two races at one circuit. Holding two races at the same circuit reduces the need to travel, which reduces logistical challenges. Furthermore, holding two races in one place back-to-back would allow for a comparison of the two formats to judge the effectiveness of a sprint race.
However, it is important to note that F1's primary motivation for holding two races in Austria was likely not financial. The second race in Austria was added to the calendar due to the unique circumstances of the pandemic, and F1 has historically only held one race in Austria each season.
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Building season momentum
The COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent travel restrictions forced F1 to rip up its original calendar and come up with a new schedule for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. The 2020 F1 season started with two races in Austria, and the country hosted a total of three double-headers that year.
In 2021, F1 once again held two races in Austria. This was due to the growing limitations on British travel to Turkey, which led to the postponement of the Turkish Grand Prix. As the Austrian Grand Prix was scheduled for the weekend of July 2–4, it made sense to hold the now-postponed Turkish race in Austria on June 25–27.
F1 has considered holding two races each at three circuits to build season momentum, reduce travel, and avoid having to start and stop for a while. This strategy was also considered to be commercially viable, as it would make up for lost ticket sales due to races being held without fans.
While the Styrian Grand Prix was the name given to the second race in Austria, it is important to note that this was not a new development. F1 is required to have a different name for each race on the calendar, so when two races are held at the same circuit, they must have different names. For example, when F1 previously hosted two races in the same country in one calendar year, but at different circuits, both grands prix were known by different names. For instance, between 2008 and 2012, Valencia hosted the European Grand Prix, while the Barcelona race was run under the Spanish Grand Prix banner.
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Frequently asked questions
The COVID-19 outbreak and the consequent travel restrictions forced F1 to rip up its original calendar and come up with a new schedule for the 2020 season. The number of COVID infections in Turkey forced the UK and other countries to impose travel bans, leading to the postponement of the Turkish Grand Prix. As the Austrian Grand Prix was scheduled for the following week, it made sense to hold the Turkish race in Austria.
In 2021, Britain was not allowing travel to Turkey, so the Turkish Grand Prix was postponed, resulting in two events being held in Austria.
Each event on the F1 calendar must have a unique name. So, the second race at the Red Bull Ring circuit was named after the region in which the track is located, Styria, becoming the Styrian Grand Prix.
It seems unlikely. While a sprint race in Austria has been described as a no-brainer, it has also been labelled a non-starter.
