The grand racing circuit of Vietnam in Hanoi was one of the hottest recent F1 projects; yet, it was one of the shortest-lived. Originally announced in 2018, the track was going to make Formula 1 the first-ever to race in Vietnam.
Such a circuit promised to throw a new and unique challenge into the F1 calendar, boasting a variety of tight corners and high-speed straights. Designed by Hermann Tilke, the circuit was to reflect what one considers the spirit of the iconic F1 tracks like Suzuka and Monaco, promising something entirely fresh to set aside for drivers and fans alike.
The layout was one of the most fascinating parts of the Hanoi circuit. It was supposed to have an extension of 5.6 kilometers and a straight of 1.5 km ready for some of the highest top speeds in F1.
Some parts would be high speed; others would be technical, requiring the best driver’s skill. A few of the corners even mimic famous sections of circuits like the Nürburgring. The design was intended to bring the best of the classical and the modern world of racing, creating a unique challenge for the drivers.
The anticipation was huge for the first race in Hanoi. The Grand Prix was scheduled to debut in April 2020; it was an exciting moment for fans to get the buzz of F1 racing in yet another new, vibrant location.
Set to be quite a spectacle, and it was obvious Vietnam would offer no memorable addition to the F1 calendar. Everything was flowing, until disaster struck.
The global pandemic of COVID-19 has jeopardized the entire season of 2020. The travel restrictions and lockdowns imposed by different countries soon made it clear that hosting the inaugural race in Vietnam just would not be possible.
The race was canceled, leaving fans heartbroken as this was just the first reason to have the debut of the Vietnam Grand Prix indefinitely delayed. Even many more reasons were there for non-holding of the race.
Originally under construction when cancellation took place, the circuit remained incomplete. The stubs of the track persisted, with visible barriers, curbs, and painted lines remaining in place where the race was supposed to be held. Haunting reminders of a project that might have blossomed into greatness.
The dream of an F1 race in Vietnam never came to fruition and the track ended up being a ghost of what could have happened.
Even if minor events happen at the site, the grand vision of a Vietnam Grand Prix is still far from being realized. This once promising venue has now become a ghost of what could have been used.
It is now empty and unused space. One can only imagine how it could have felt to see F1 cars speeding on the streets of Hanoi… but the track stands as an incomplete project forever lost to the pages of the motorsport history.
This Vietnam Grand Prix, which never happened, will remain perhaps the most fascinating of F1’s missed opportunities. The unfinished circuit here stands as a monument to the way big dreams get dashed before the world gets to know them by unforeseen events.
A story of what could have been: a race that never occurred and a track that never hosted a Formula 1 event.
