The abandoned Hanoi F1 circuit: £540 million lost to politics and pandemic. The Hanoi F1 Circuit, a £540 million modern track in Vietnam, was never used due to the pandemic and political issues.

Hanoi Circuit: the £540 million dream left abandoned
It was meant to be the symbol of Formula 1 in Vietnam, a modern and spectacular circuit combining city streets with permanent sections. Instead, the Hanoi Circuit remains an unfulfilled dream: built at a high cost and never used, it has become one of the most curious abandoned sites in international motorsport.

The dream canceled by pandemic and politics
Construction of the circuit, which cost £540 million, was completed in February 2020 with the aim of hosting the Vietnam Grand Prix in April. However, the Covid-19 pandemic forced organizers to postpone the event, which did not take place even in 2021. Further complicating matters, Hanoi Mayor Nguyen Duc Chung, the main promoter of F1 in the city, was convicted of corruption, definitively undermining the ambitions of the project.

A circuit that lives only in video games
Despite the cancellation, fans were able to “experience” the track through the F1 2020 video game, where Codemasters included a digital version of the project designed by Hermann Tilke. With its 5.6 km length and 23 corners, the layout resembles Jeddah Corniche, which joined the calendar the following year. Meanwhile, the real arena remains standing but unused, a silent monument to missed opportunities.

Five years later, the Hanoi Circuit has become part of Formula 1’s list of great “what-ifs,” alongside other ambitious projects that were never realized. It stands as a symbol of how pandemics, politics, and strategic choices can turn a £540 million dream into a relic of modern motorsport.

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