The Formula 1 2021 season is unlikely to start with the Australian GP as planned, with the scheduled opening race set to be postponed.

After a disrupted 2020 campaign because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Albert Park's Australian GP  which was cancelled last year was due to kick off a record 23-race 2021 season on March 21.

But the race is now set to be postponed until later in the year due to strict new quarantine restrictions in Melbourne.

 The Bahrain GP, set for March 28, is poised to replace Australia as the season-opener.

Melbourne is preparing to host its first major international event in almost a year in February with the Australian Open tennis tournament, and the Victorian government has made a 14-day quarantine mandatory for all personnel.

It is believed F1 would be subject to the same rules - and a Grand Prix would be unviable in those circumstances.