Aussie Formula One superstar Daniel Ricciardo has revealed his heartbreak at today’s decision to cancel the Australian Formula One Grand Prix for a second straight year.

In an official statement, Victorian authorities confirmed the decision to cancel both the Grand Prix, scheduled for November 21, and the Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island on October 24, wasn’t made lightly.

Ricciardo took to social media to share his disappointment at the news.

“It hurts, I know. We were all looking forward to it and particulary myself to race in Melbourne again,” he said.

“We got to keep our chin up, look forward. Hopefully in 2022 it can still happen.

“I’m sure by then it will be bigger, better and more beautiful than ever.”

The Victorian Government has blamed the “slower than forecast rollout of the Commonwealth vaccination program” and the international traveller cap as reasons for the cancellation of the marquee events.

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“It’s a huge disappointment for all of the drivers that we won’t be coming down to Australia in November, but we understand the reasons,” Ricciardo said.

“For me personally, I can’t wait to have the chance to race at home again, and it’ll be even sweeter when we do because it’s been so long.

“Fingers crossed things can change for 2022 and we get to see the awesome fans at Albert Park again and put on a good show for them.”

Australian Grand Prix Corporation Chairman, Paul Little AO, said organisers were already planning ahead to 2022.

“We’re deeply disappointed that for a second consecutive year, both MotoGP and Formula 1 fans won’t be able to see the world’s best riders and drivers compete at the wonderful Phillip Island and Albert Park Grand Prix circuits,” he said.

“I would like to reassure our motivated and professional staff, suppliers and partners, as well as the Victorian tourism and major events community that we will work tirelessly to deliver these iconic events in 2022.”

The 2021 race had been provisionally pushed back from its regular early-season timeslot to November in the hope COVID-19 restrictions would have eased by then.

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said another race would be held in place of the Australian event.

“While it is disappointing we won’t be racing in Australia this season, we are confident we can deliver a 23 race season in 2021 and we have a number of options to take forward to replace the place left vacant by the Australian Grand Prix,” he said.

“We will be working through the details of those options in the coming weeks and will provide further updates once those discussions are concluded.”

The 2020 Australian GP at the Albert Park street circuit in Melbourne was called off at the last minute at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation presented a COVID-safe plan to the government, arguing the event could be run safely with the drivers and crews operating within a bubble.

But drivers were reportedly reluctant to go into hard quarantine, which allowed international tennis players to compete at the Australian Open earlier this year.

Formula One already has a race scheduled in Brazil for Nov 5-7, leaving little time for a two-week hotel quarantine before the November 19-21 event in Melbourne.

The Australian Grand Prix is contracted to be held at Albert Park until at least 2025, while the MotoGP is contracted to Victoria until 2026.