Formula 1 Disputes China Race Being Called Off

A track “marked for Formula 1 greatness” will lie dormant for at least another year, at least according to one report.

According to the BBC, F1 is reportedly prepared to remove Shanghai from its 2023 calendar, bringing clarity to one of the series’ major outstanding questions.

An F1 spokesperson, however, maintains that the race is still on and told the French news agency AFP that “China has been included in the 2023 calendar and, until we announce otherwise, this remains the case.”

• F1 hasn’t raced in China since 2019, due to the pandemic. It was scheduled to make its return in April.
• The country refused to grant an exception to F1 on its quarantine policies, which could have forced team staff to be detained in the country if they contracted COVID-19 there.
• The country currently requires anyone who tests positive for the virus to quarantine at an isolation center for five days, plus an additional three at home.

Shanghai’s $450 million track hosted 16 F1 Grand Prix races from 2004 to 2019.

Media

| by Doug Greenberg

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Revamped Schedule

Las Vegas joins Austin and Miami as Formula 1’s third U.S. race in 2023, and F1 has purchased $240 million of land in Sin City to create a permanent paddock and event area.

Qatar will rejoin the series next year after debuting in 2021 and taking a one-year break while it hosts the World Cup.

The French Grand Prix will drop off the schedule but has hopes to return on a rotating basis. Monaco was at risk to be removed but will stay on for an additional three years.