Being due to return to Shanghai for the first time since 2019, it has again been forced to be cancelled due to Chinas zero-covid policy. F1 in talks for a possible replacement.
(2017 Chinese Grand Prix)
Within the 4 weeks between the Australian and Azerbaijan Grand Prix’s, the hotly anticipated return to the Shanghai international circuit has once again been halted due to a zero covid policy in China, it doesn’t entirely stop the arrival of any sporting event being allowed to take place in the country. Should a team member test positive they will have to quarantine for 8 days before being exempt to leave the country.
The opening round of the 2020 season in Melbourne, Australia was one that ran similarly to the same guidelines, as the decision in the beginning to continue with the race weekend and keep as safe as possible with the continuation of testing for the virus. The outbreak from a McLaren team member was the end of the weekend as the team had decided to withdraw from the grand prix. The FIA later holding a meeting with all team principals and deeming that the race should not go ahead and to cancel the event entirely.
After Formula One announced that the calendar was going to include a record breaking 23 races for this year’s calendar, the cancellation of the Russian grand prix was inevitably going to be the deal breaker when beating the total number of races held in a season which was 22 in the end. With Las Vegas being a new addition and Qatar being readded to the calendar as a full replacement for Russia, means that the 23 confirmed races can still go ahead as things stand, but a replacement for China is up in the air.
(2019 Chinese Grand Prix)
What will fill in the 4-week gap?
Portugal – The Portimão International Circuit is likely to be the best option possible to replace the Chinese GP. Without having to do a double header at a European race and moving the dates around and making last minute changes to the entire calendar, a return to Portugal might be the best logistical option for the teams. The track made a return to the calendar in 2020 and 21 seasons mainly due to the uncertainty of even getting to the end of that season. Those two weekends offered some brilliant racing, Carlos Sainz in 2020 taking the lead of the race in the first couple of laps, and more memorable, Kimi Raikkonen storming through 10 positions in the opening lap alone!
As it would’ve been taking place between the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, it is probably best that another race that can go ahead be situated closer to home, as all the teams are based in Europe, this can be a much easier way to fill in any gaps being less than a 3-hour flight from the UK. Many team members will typically go home when there is a week between the races usually and tend to travel within the week of the next race, Baku being a Monday or Tuesday.
(Portimão International Circuit, Algarve, Portugal)
Germany – The Hockenheim and Nürburgring GP Circuits could also be an option should the decision be to replace China with a European race. Despite the country reportedly not interested in holding another F1 event in the future and both of those circuits heavily reliant on sports car racing series, it isn’t entirely ruled out that the sport won’t make a return to Germany at all, but it is doubtful that this decision is taken over Portugal or a double header.
The last two races held in the country were 2019 and 20 at both circuits. Hockenheim in 2019 was a hectic race; after that years British Grand Prix the weekend ended with Daniil Kvyat’s Toro Rosso on the podium, then 5-time world champion Lewis Hamilton after crashing under the safety car and having a 50 second pitstop would later drop to 9th.
The Nürburgring (Eifel) GP that stood in for a race that would’ve been heavily affected by the pandemic, presumably a Singapore replacement for that season being straight after Russia. Going into the weekend, the weather was treacherous, Lewis Hamilton was on the pursuit of his 91st victory which would ultimately equal Michael Schumacher’s all-time win record.
Formula One cars hadn’t driven the circuit since the 2013 season, so it was going to be an interesting race regardless of if it was dull or exciting. The modern f1 cars couldn’t follow to well without close calls or contact; Kimi Raikkonen locking up and taking out George Russell into turn 1.
(Kimi Raikkonen and George Russell incident, 2020 Eifel Grand Prix, Nürburgring, Germany)
Double header – Should Formula One decide that the best decision is to hold two races in Melbourne next year, it would soften the impact of a 4-week gap and possibly allocate more tickets to eager fans that may have missed the races that were cancelled in 2020 and 21 seasons. The Australian Grand Prix in 2022 was an exciting return, selling out the grandstands with a record capacity crowd and tickets reselling for almost double their asking prices, there is without question demand for the race should there be another held within the following weekend of a first one.
A double header at the Baku City Circuit would likely mean relying on the circuit to make the changes to their dates in the calendar to one week before considering the Miami Grand Prix will be a week after on the 7th of May. These two circuits holding another race is probably the least likely option of the three when considering that they aren’t held on a purpose-built track, the organisers for both races would have to get permission granted for them to close the roads around Albert Park and the City of Baku for a second time which disrupts normal traffic.
(Charles Leclerc, 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix)
Updated Calendar for F1 in 2023 | Unconfirmed
Sakhir, Bahrain – March 5th
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – March 19th
Melbourne, Australia – April 2nd
Baku, Azerbaijan – April 30th
Miami, USA – May 7th
Emilia Romagna, Italy – May 21st
Monte Carlo, Monaco – May 28th
Barcelona, Spain – June 4th
Montreal, Canada – June 18th
Spielberg, Austria – July 2nd
Silverstone, United Kingdom – July 9th
Budapest, Hungary – July 23rd
Spa, Belgium – July 30th
Zandvoort, Netherlands – August 27th
Monza, Italy – September 3rd
Marina Bay, Singapore – September 17th
Suzuka, Japan – September 24th
Lusail, Qatar – October 8th
Austin, USA – October 22nd
Mexico City – October 29th
Sao Paolo – November 5th
Las Vegas, USA – November 18th
Abu Dhabi, UAE – November 26th
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