F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to take place in December

Dubai - The race, which has traditionally been the season-ender to the calendar, will take place just after the Bahrain Grand Prix

This season's Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will form part of a mini 'gulf swing' and is set to run in December, Formula One Management confirmed on Monday.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which has traditionally been the season-ender to the Formula One calendar, will take place in December, just after the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was to take place from November 27 to 29 at the iconic Yas Marina Circuit in the UAE Capital.
The start of the season has been delayed because of the global coronavirus pandemic and it now appears that the Austrian Grand Prix will be the season-opener.
The revised calendar sees the Austrian GP take place from July 3 to 5 with the European leg taking place until August. September and October sees the F1 bandwagon race in Eurasia and Asia followed by the Asian and Americas in October and November.
F1 will make its pitstop in the Middle East in December.
"Although this morning it was announced that the French Grand Prix, due to take place in late June, will not be going ahead, we are now increasingly confident with the progress of our plans to begin our season this summer," Chase Carey, Chairman and CEO of Formula 1, said in a statement.
"We're targeting a start to racing in Europe through July, August and beginning of September, with the first race taking place in Austria on 3-5 July weekend. September, October and November, would see us race in Eurasia, Asia and the Americas, finishing the season in the Gulf in December with Bahrain before the traditional finale in Abu Dhabi, having completed between 15-18 races," the American added.
The finalised calendar will be released soon.
The early races will be run without fans but F1 management are hoping things will change as they go deeper into the calendar.
"We still have to work out many issues like the procedures for the teams and our other partners to enter and operate in each country. The health and safety of all involved will continue to be priority one and we will only go forward if we are confident we have reliable procedures to address both risks and possible issues," Carey said.
The season was to begin in Australia from March 13 to 15 and the teams had already arrived in Melbourne to race at Albert Park. But the race was cancelled following an emergency meeting by team bosses and the F1 management after the McLaren team withdrew because a team member had tested positive.
The Bahrain Grand Prix was to take place behind closed doors from March 20 to 22 but was postponed.
james@khaleejtimes.com