Vietnamese Grand Prix dropped for 2021

The Vietnamese Grand Prix has been dropped from the 2021 Formula 1 calendar, BBC Sport has learned.

It raises doubts that the race, due to make its debut in April before it was called off because of the coronavirus pandemic, will ever take place.

The date of the Vietnam race, 25 April, has been left blank on a 22-race 2021 schedule to be published on Tuesday.

The calendar could extend to 23 Grands Prix - a new record - if F1 can find a replacement for Vietnam.

The move has been triggered by the arrest on corruption charges of a key official responsible for the race in Hanoi.

Hanoi People's Committee chairman Nguyen Duc Chung was arrested in August for alleged appropriation of documents containing state secrets.

The case is not related to his involvement in the grand prix.

However, Chung was the key figure in the race being introduced and championed it with the national government. His absence has led to a vacuum and Vietnamese authorities have told F1 that the government has other priorities, including key elections, the pandemic and recovery from a typhoon.