SINGAPORE – In a major blow to the city’s hospitality sector, the Singapore Grand Prix has been cancelled this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Japanese and Azerbaijan Grands Prix have also become victims of the virus.
The Singapore Night Grand Prix, one of the most exciting events on the F1 calendar, has traditionally been a boom time for the city’s hotels and restaurants.
Singapore GP said it was unable to proceed with the race due to Covid-19 restrictions affecting construction of the Marina Bay event venue.
Other challenges included ongoing mass gathering and worldwide travel restrictions.
Singapore GP said it will provide existing ticketholders with automatic refunds within 30 business days, or a rollover option to next year's event.
Singapore Tourism Board's director of sports, Ong Ling Lee, said in a media release, "Since 2008, the F1 race has generated benefits for both Singapore and the F1 franchise, with many local businesses actively involved in race preparations and operations.
"We take pride in our track record of hosting the first and only F1 night street race for the past 12 years, and we look forward to its return next year."
The latest cancellations mean F1 has lost a further three key Grands Prix to the Covid-19 crisis that has already claimed the season-opening race in Australia and the blue-riband Monaco event.
Japan and Singapore are two of the most prestigious and popular races on the calendar.
The end of the F1 season is now set for the Middle East, where both Bahrain and Abu Dhabi have indicated that they are willing to host two races at each of the tracks if necessary.
The Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix was due to be held on 20 Sept.