Formula E season to start in Saudi Arabia with exceptions for certain countries

The 2021 Formula E season has already been postponed by the move of the Santiago e-Prix, and now the first race in Saudi Arabia is also under fire. According to Formula E, however, the plan is still to hold this race.

As with Formula 1, it is difficult for FE to make a full calendar with the coronavirus still around. Last season ended at Berlin's Tempelhof airport, but this year Formula E is also looking to return to a normal season. However, the season opener in Santiago has already been postponed.

The start of the season is now scheduled for 26 and 27 February in Saudi Arabia, where two races will be held in succession on the streets of Riyadh. The question was whether the race could go ahead, however, now that the government in the Middle Eastern country has decided to keep the border closed to 20 different countries.

Those countries include for example Great Britain, America, and France. These are three major countries from which teams or staff would be unable to travel. However, according to The Race, an exception has been made for Formula E, allowing all staff to travel to Saudi Arabia on charters.

''Formula E is still planning to start the season with a Double Header on February 26 and 27. Because an exception was made by the kingdom for England, the staff's papers remain valid. We are working on a solution to get all the staff there as safely as possible," an FE spokesman said.