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Formula 1 Shifts Bahrain to Season Opener, Imola Replaces China

The 2021 Formula 1 schedule has been altered slightly due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bahrain Grand Prix will now start the season, F1 announced Jan. 12.

Originally poised to start the season, the Australian Grand Prix has instead been moved to toward the end of the season on Nov. 21.

Bahrain will kick off the circuit on March 28.

Additionally, the Chinese Grand Prix has been replaced on the schedule by Imola, which was not previously on the docket this year.

F1 officials said that China could be rescheduled at a later date for the season, barring lessened travel restrictions.

See the new schedule here.

Frontstretch.com
Executive Editor at Frontstretch

Kevin Rutherford is the executive editor of Frontstretch, a position he gained in 2025 after being the managing editor since 2015, and serving on the editing staff since 2013.

At his day job, he's a journalist covering music and rock charts at Billboard. He lives in New York City, but his heart is in Ohio -- you know, like that Hawthorne Heights song.