Hanoi considers hosting first F1 Grand Prix in November 

The 5.6km circuit features 23 corners and has nine grandstands named after regions across Vietnam (Photo: VNA)

At a meeting last week, Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung said that capital authorities are considering getting the country’s first ever F1 race back on track, which would take place near My Dinh National Stadium.

Due to the coronavirus, the city along with motorsport governing body the FIA, Formula One, and Vingroup – the exclusive sponsor of the F1 race – decided to postpone the April 3-5 event in Vietnam.

Formula One restarted the 2020 season in Austria on July 5 after the start of the year saw the Australia, Bahrain and Vietnam events called off and others postponed. The season-opening Australian Grand Prix was cancelled on March 12 at the last minute following manufacturer McLaren’s withdrawal from the event after one of their mechanics tested positive for COVID-19.

According to Chung, Hanoi is discussing effective solutions to foster local economic growth in the post-pandemic period. Capital authorities are evaluating the situation of coronavirus spreading, and while Vietnam has found no new cases in the community for nearly 90 days, the city is considering negotiating with the FIA to host the debut of the Hanoi Grand Prix at the end of the year in an attempt to stimulate domestic tourism at the very least.

According to statistics, Hanoi received registration of 100,000 international visitors for the race when it was scheduled for April, as well as 40,000 domestic spectators.

Chung reaffirmed that the city is concerned about protecting the health of the capital’s people, but also needs many other plans to restore and develop the economy. In particular, the consideration to continue organising F1 racing events and a number of other sporting events must be based on the spirit of ensuring pandemic safety. “The city is scrutinising and negotiating to continue organising the F1 race at the end of November, while continuing to prepare programmes and projects for SEA Games 31 and Paragames 11,” Chung said.

Vietnam is still in the process of negotiating to conditionally restore some international flight routes to major partners that have shown signs of controlling the pandemic such as South Korea, Japan, and Singapore.

However, Vietnam still retains a centralised isolation policy of 14 days for all visitors. This policy is being recommended for replacement by some. For example, South Korean leaders are requesting new methods of monitoring the pandemic such as requiring the presentation of a mandatory medical examination and reporting a daily health status during the 14 days.

F1 organisers informed that from September to November, previously delayed races could be rescheduled, including those in Russia, China, and across the Americas. The season is expected to end after races in Bahrain and the UAE in December.