CHINA ASKS FOR 2023 OCTOBER SLOT

Cancelled for the third season running in 2022, the Chinese Grand Prix may make a comeback to Formula One next year, even though the pandemic situation in the country remains completely out of control.

Shanghai has remained in lockdown for the last two months and other big cities also face partial or total lockdowns, as the government seems unable to succeed in a battle that all developed countries have already overcome, with normality resuming, with some restrictions, pretty much worldwide.

Trying to secure a date in the 2023 calendar that will minimise the risks of a fourth consecutive cancellation of their event – and desperate to hold a Grand Prix while Guanyu Zhou is in Formula

One, to attract a larger number of spectators to the Shanghai International Circuit – the promoters of the Chinese Grand Prix have asked Formula One to schedule their race for October, six months after the normal April date.

With Stefano Domenicali and the Formula One teams pushing to organise the schedule better, putting races in the same geographical region together to reduce the amount of traveling required by the 3.000 plus people that have to go to all the races.

China is hoping to get a slot after the Singaporean and Japanese Grand Prix, making it an Asian triple header that would come after the end of the European season.

While Domenicali is open to the change, Formula One’s preferred solution would be to have the Chinese Grand Prix scheduled for two weeks after the Italian Grand Prix, on September 24th, as entering Shanghai is still going to be a logistical challenge for everybody.

Given the country is unlikely to reopen its borders fully even at the end of next year, so a few extra days to sort things out entering China will be welcome.

That would keep Singapore and Japan in their usual spots and wouldn’t force Austin and Mexico City to more from their traditional dates at the end of October.

Domenicali faces big challenges to organize a more rational schedule due to the demands of some big paying promoters, so don’t expect even a provisional 2023 calendar to be released until September, as tense negotiations will take time to bear any fruit.

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