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Vietnam‘s inaugural Formula One Grand Prix “might not happen” subsequent yr, a supply advised AFP on Tuesday, as a report stated it had been dropped from the 2021 calendar following the arrest of a key official. Doubts in regards to the race arose after Nguyen Duc Chung, who was Hanoi’s mayor and a serious supporter of the grand prix, was arrested on corruption prices in August. “Without Chung, the future of the race in Hanoi is gloomy. It might not happen,” a supply near the race advised AFP on situation of anonymity.
There has been no phrase from Vietnamese authorities on whether or not the race, postponed from April after which cancelled due to the coronavirus, would make its belated debut subsequent yr.
Some spectator stands have been faraway from beside the monitor.
And the BBC stated the date of the grand prix, April 25, has been left clean on a 22-race 2021 schedule to be revealed on Tuesday.
The report stated the transfer was triggered by the arrest of Chung, who struck the deal to host the race, for the alleged “appropriation of secret state documents”.
Three others together with his driver have been arrested within the case, which isn’t associated to the grand prix.
Chung, 53, was suspended as mayor two weeks earlier than his arrest. The one-time director of Hanoi’s police division was appointed chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee in 2015.
Vietnam signed up for Formula One hoping the glamour of the game might replicate the nation’s financial lift-off and reshape Hanoi’s staid picture, a lot because it has performed for Singapore.
The communist nation inked a 10-year take care of Formula One in 2018. State media stated it could price the nation $60 million per yr.
The price has been picked up in full by the nation’s largest personal conglomerate, VinGroup, which had been hoping to dazzle with an evening race.
Officials stated the 5.565-kilometre monitor in Hanoi was prepared forward of schedule.
Vietnam final month formally cancelled the 2020 grand prix attributable to issues that groups and followers coming from abroad might spark a brand new outbreak of Covid-19.
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Authorities have allowed only a few business flights into Vietnam since borders have been largely closed in March, and vacationer visas are nonetheless suspended.
The nation has gained plaudits for its dealing with of the coronavirus, with simply 1,215 recorded instances and no group transmission for greater than two months.
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