Formula E has postponed the planned start oඣf its 2021 season which was due to get underway in Chile.

A double-header had been pencilled in for the Santiago E-Prix at the Parque O’Higgins Circuit for 16-17 January to kick off the all-electric series’ seventh season bꩲut the event has been postponed following talks with the local authorities.

While no specific reason was given for the postponement, the♚ recent surge of new coronavirus cases around the globe - including an outbreak of a new variant in the United Kingdom - is likely to have been a consideration behind what was already going to be a difficult logistical challenge to get equipment to South America in time for mid-January.

Formula E said it hopes to rearrange the Santiago roun💮d for later in the first quarter of next year.

“In consultation with the Santiago municipality, the Santiago E♑Prix has been ✃postponed,” Formula E confirmed in a statement.

“The races will no🥃 longer take place as a double-header on January 16th and 17th and we are working with the city to finalise d🐟ates on which to stage the races later in the first quarter of 2021.”

The postponement raises question marks over whetheꦐr the next pl🌊anned race in Saudi Arabia just a month later will be able to go ahead as planned.

Formula E’s 2019-2020 season was heavily disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, with a total of seven rounds being꧑ cancelled before a condensed season finale featuring six races in nine days was organised in Berlin to conclude the campaign in August.

Ahead of its first sea🎶son running under world 🅘championship status, Formula E conducted pre-season testing at Valencia earlier this month, with BMW Andretti’s Maximilian Gunether setting the pace on the final day of action in Spain.