The Australian Grand Prix will likely be postponed to the again finish of the Components One season with Bahrain changing it because the opening race in March, Aston Martin workforce proprietor Lawrence Stroll informed Reuters.

The transfer, because of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine restrictions, has been extensively flagged within the media however is but to be confirmed by Components One or native organisers.

“Melbourne has been — it is not formally introduced however it is going to be — not cancelled however postponed. We’ll go there someday within the fall (autumn) and the primary race will likely be Bahrain,” stated the Canadian billionaire.

He was talking forward of the announcement of a brand new workforce title sponsorship with IT firm Cognizant.

Components One groups agreed the change in a digital assembly with Components One’s new chief govt Stefano Domenicali on Monday.

Sources stated the identical assembly additionally agreed for pre-season testing to maneuver from Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya to Bahrain, with out setting a date.

Final season’s race calendar needed to be re-written because of the world pandemic, with an eventual 17 rounds in Europe and the Center East and a few circuits together with Bahrain internet hosting two grands prix.

Stroll, additionally govt chairman of sportscar maker Aston Martin which is returning to F1 as a constructor for the primary time in 60 years in a rebranding of the Racing Level workforce, anticipated lingering difficulties.

“I do imagine we’re in for a troublesome two or three months,” stated Stroll. “There’s a mild on the finish of the tunnel with the vaccine. I feel the primary few races will likely be barely difficult.

“However Components One administration and the FIA, I actually take my hat off to them to ship 17 races as we did final 12 months in 23 weeks, with out actually any main hiccups, in a really spectacular method.

“I feel the worst is behind us and we have learnt by means of final 12 months easy methods to proceed with this 12 months.”

Stroll and his son Lance, who drives for Aston Martin, each examined constructive for the virus final 12 months.