Formula 1 cancels Chinese Grand Prix for fourth year due to Covid

2023 F1 season

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Formula 1 will not race in China next season after it the series confirmed its scheduled round in Shanghai has been cancelled.

The world championship was intending to return to China in April next year as the fourth round of the 2023 season. However, due to the logistical problems presented by the Chinese government’s Covid restrictions, Formula 1 has decided it will not be possible to stage the race at all in 2023.

Formula 1 last raced at the Shanghai International Circuit in 2019. China remains the only race originally planned for the 2020 season – the year most heavily impacted by Covid – not to have held a grand prix since the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020. The Vietnam Grand Prix was originally scheduled to make its debut during the 2020 season but the race did not take place.

There are a number of potential replacement venues being considered to take over China’s slot on the calendar for the 2023 season. However, any replacement will likely not be confirmed until the new year.

Next year’s championship was originally scheduled for 24 rounds – the most ever in the history of Formula 1. With 23 rounds now confirmed and six sprint races due to be held, it will still remain the most intensive season of racing the world championship has ever held.

China is one of few countries which continues to impose strict lockdowns to prevent the spread of Covid-19 infections. The country allows little international travel and only held the Beijing Winter Olympics earlier this year under tight security conditions. Protests have broken out in the country in recent days over its continued ‘zero Covid’ policy.

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Author information

Will Wood
Will has been a RaceFans contributor since 2012 during which time he has covered F1 test sessions, launch events and interviewed drivers. He mainly...
Claire Cottingham
Claire has worked in motorsport for much of her career, covering a broad mix of championships including Formula One, Formula E, the BTCC, British...

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18 comments on “Formula 1 cancels Chinese Grand Prix for fourth year due to Covid”

  1. Oh my god, seriously just give up on this place.

  2. Hopefully they will bring back Sepang back for this slot.
    For sure one of the best circuits (my personal favourite), logistically it would also make sense since the race before was in Australia and the next one is in Azerbaijan.

  3. Pity. But not the slightest bit surprising.

  4. Good, science is real!

  5. There should be a replacement. There is a big (and unnecessary) gap between Australia and Azerbaijan.

    1. @f1mre
      The gap would be a non-issue if F1 never attempted to hold the Chinese GP in April in the first place, as they should’ve realized the lead time for entry restrictions getting lifted in time is insufficient.
      However, I agree that a replacement track would be ideal to avoid two three-consecutive weekend intervals within the same season.

    2. They should just get the Baku race done a week earlier if they want to change something IMO

  6. Finally & planning around a Chinese GP in April was a mistake from the get-go, so giving up on the event before the race calendar release like last year would’ve been better.
    I wouldn’t mind the Chinese GP getting substituted by the Algarve circuit. I’d also be happy about Circuit Paul Ricard for the same purpose if either would be financially viable for a one-off appearance.

    1. Oh jeez. Anything other than Paul Ricard.

      Personally, I’d rather see Istanbul Park make a return.

      1. @bradders Same, but unfortunately, Istanbul Park seems a non-option for another temporary appearance.

      2. Oh jeez. Anything other than Paul Ricard.

        +1
        As I said elsewhere, a street circuit in Milton Keynes has more appeal than Paul Ricard and that’s a pretty low bar.

  7. playstation361
    2nd December 2022, 12:53

    Correction: From the past 4 years.

  8. Be ready for 2023 Turkish GP.

  9. Good, now only to make this a permanent policy, as one should not engage in the sportswashing scheme of the country that is committing the largest genocide of the 21st century.

  10. Oh no! Moving on …

  11. Does New Zealand have a track?

  12. Breaking News: Formula 1 cancels the British GP for the first year due to common cold.

  13. Just take it off the calendar completely. Would like to see them go back to Sepang.

Comments are closed.