Formula 1

F1 News: Chinese GP Dropped From 2023 Calendar After Zero-Covid Policy Ruling

It has been reported that the Chinese Grand Prix will be cancelled for the 2023 season. The sport hasn’t been to China since 2020 with the coronavirus outbreak. The country has a strict “zero-COVID” policy which forbids certain types of events and public meetings.

Sky Sports reporter Ted Kravitz explained in his post-race show, ‘Ted’s Notebook’, what he had heard about the situation from Chinese Alfa Romeo driver, Zhou Guanyu. He said:

“Zhou Guanyu is saying it’s unlikely now that we’re going to have the Chinese GP [in 2023] after the big party conference in China. They’re going to stay with the zero covid policy.

“So that prevents the Chinese GP from happening – I can only imagine how disappointed Zhou Guanyu is not be be having a home GP, though that seems to be what’s happening for next year’s calendar.”

It was previously announced that next year would be the start of a 24-race F1 calendar, so now this raises questions as to whether the Chinese Grand Prix will be replaced or if it will become a 23-race season.

There is speculation over whether the French Grand Prix will make a return after it was dropped off of next years calendar, but with the Chinese GP set to be in April the time of year may not be right for the Paul Ricard track. Another viable option is the Turkish Grand Prix which was dropped in 2020, was back in 2021 and then did not make it onto this years calendar.

It is unclear at this time whether the Chinese Grand Prix will make a return for the 2024 season.

F1 fans are currently looking ahead to the Brazilian Grand Prix which is in a weeks’ time. Although Max Verstappen has already won the driver’s championship and Red Bull the constructor’s championship, the competition for second and third continues.

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