A colossal £540 million motorsport arena sits silently on the outskirts of Hanoi, a stark monument to what might have been. This is the Hanoi Circuit, a Formula One track that was meticulously constructed but has never echoed with the roar of a Grand Prix.
The Grand Ambition That Stalled
Designed to be a thrilling hybrid of a street and permanent circuit, the Hanoi track was slated to host the inaugural Vietnam Grand Prix in April 2020. Construction was completed in February of that year, with the global motorsport community eagerly anticipating the new addition to the calendar.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic forced organisers to shelve the race indefinitely. Plans to reschedule for 2021 also collapsed, leaving the 5.6-kilometre, 23-corner circuit in a state of limbo. The project suffered a further critical blow in November 2020 when its key political champion, Hanoi city mayor Nguyen Duc Chung, was sentenced to five years in prison for corruption. He later received an additional sentence, bringing his total prison time to ten years.
A Digital Legacy and a Physical Ghost
While no official race has ever been run, the track does have a curious afterlife. Developers Codemasters scanned a version of the circuit into the F1 2020 video game, allowing virtual drivers to experience Herman Tilke's winding design. The circuit's layout, reminiscent of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, remains a 'what if' for enthusiasts.
At the time, former F1 chief Chase Carey insisted that the track would be ready for a 2021 Grand Prix, stating they expected agreements to be honoured. Despite these assurances, the Vietnamese government prioritised post-pandemic recovery and upcoming elections, ultimately sealing the circuit's fate.
Joining the Ranks of Racing's Lost Tracks
Five years on, the Hanoi Circuit now stands as one of motorsport's most expensive and poignant abandoned projects. It joins other forgotten venues like the Korea International Circuit, a stark reminder of the fine line between ambition and reality in the high-stakes world of Formula One.
Today, the vast complex is eerily quiet, with local commuters occasionally crossing its unused tarmac, a surreal sight where world-class racing was meant to unfold.
