<p>Vietnam's inaugural Formula One Grand Prix "might not happen" next year, a source told AFP on Tuesday, as a report said it had been dropped from the 2021 calendar following the arrest of a key official.</p>.<p>Doubts arose after Nguyen Duc Chung, who was Hanoi's mayor and a major supporter of the grand prix, was arrested on corruption charges in August.</p>.<p>"Without Chung, the future of the race in Hanoi is gloomy. It might not happen," a source close to the race told AFP on the condition of anonymity.</p>.<p>There has been no word from Vietnamese authorities on whether the race, postponed from April and then cancelled because of the coronavirus, would make its belated debut next year.</p>.<p>But the date of the grand prix, April 25, has been left blank on a 22-race 2021 schedule to be published on Tuesday, the BBC reported.</p>.<p>It said the move was triggered by the arrest of Chung, who was Hanoi's mayor and a major supporter of the race, for the alleged "appropriation of secret state documents".</p>.<p>The case is not related to the grand prix.</p>.<p>The communist, Southeast Asian nation signed a 10-year deal with Formula One in 2018. State media said it would cost the country $60 million per year.</p>.<p>The fee has been picked up in full by the country's largest private conglomerate, VinGroup, which had been hoping to dazzle with a night race on a street track.</p>.<p>Vietnam signed up for Formula One hoping the glamour of the sport could reflect the country's economic lift-off and reshape Hanoi's staid image, much as it has done for Singapore.</p>.<p>Officials insisted the 5.565-kilometre track in Hanoi had been ready ahead of schedule.</p>.<p>The country has already gained plaudits this year for its handling of the coronavirus, with just 1,215 recorded cases and no community transmission for more than two months.</p>.<p>Vietnam last month formally cancelled the 2020 grand prix due to concerns that teams and fans coming from overseas could spark a new outbreak of Covid-19.</p>.<p>Authorities have allowed very few commercial flights into Vietnam since borders were largely closed in March, and tourist visas are still suspended.</p>
<p>Vietnam's inaugural Formula One Grand Prix "might not happen" next year, a source told AFP on Tuesday, as a report said it had been dropped from the 2021 calendar following the arrest of a key official.</p>.<p>Doubts arose after Nguyen Duc Chung, who was Hanoi's mayor and a major supporter of the grand prix, was arrested on corruption charges in August.</p>.<p>"Without Chung, the future of the race in Hanoi is gloomy. It might not happen," a source close to the race told AFP on the condition of anonymity.</p>.<p>There has been no word from Vietnamese authorities on whether the race, postponed from April and then cancelled because of the coronavirus, would make its belated debut next year.</p>.<p>But the date of the grand prix, April 25, has been left blank on a 22-race 2021 schedule to be published on Tuesday, the BBC reported.</p>.<p>It said the move was triggered by the arrest of Chung, who was Hanoi's mayor and a major supporter of the race, for the alleged "appropriation of secret state documents".</p>.<p>The case is not related to the grand prix.</p>.<p>The communist, Southeast Asian nation signed a 10-year deal with Formula One in 2018. State media said it would cost the country $60 million per year.</p>.<p>The fee has been picked up in full by the country's largest private conglomerate, VinGroup, which had been hoping to dazzle with a night race on a street track.</p>.<p>Vietnam signed up for Formula One hoping the glamour of the sport could reflect the country's economic lift-off and reshape Hanoi's staid image, much as it has done for Singapore.</p>.<p>Officials insisted the 5.565-kilometre track in Hanoi had been ready ahead of schedule.</p>.<p>The country has already gained plaudits this year for its handling of the coronavirus, with just 1,215 recorded cases and no community transmission for more than two months.</p>.<p>Vietnam last month formally cancelled the 2020 grand prix due to concerns that teams and fans coming from overseas could spark a new outbreak of Covid-19.</p>.<p>Authorities have allowed very few commercial flights into Vietnam since borders were largely closed in March, and tourist visas are still suspended.</p>