Next year's Chinese F1 Grand Prix is not yet cancelled
Nov.24 - Shanghai remains scheduled to host China's return to the Formula 1 calendar next year after a three-year absence for covid.
Since the Chinese GP was given an April race date on the 2023 schedule, scepticism has abounded that the country's ultra-strict 'covid-zero' approach would be compatible with F1.
"When I saw it was April, I knew it was going to be a race against time to make sure everything was ok," said the sport's only Chinese driver Guanyu Zhou.
"Because with the covid restrictions in China, you always have to quarantine so that will complicate things a lot."
The BBC this week claims that China's quarantine restrictions in particular mean that the Shanghai race is indeed set to be scratched yet again.
Formula 1, however, insists a final decision is yet to be taken.
"We continue to monitor the covid situation in China and maintain a close dialogue with the promoter and the authorities," a spokesperson said.
"China has been included in the 2023 calendar and, until we announce otherwise, this remains the case."
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"not yet cancelled" are the key words here, it's only a matter of time before reality sinks in for the FIA.
Chairman Xi and the CCP are adamant about overseas visitors being required to spend time (currently between 7 and 10 days) in quarantine and be tested at least once every day for covid. A negative test result must be registered for at least 7 consecutive days before visitors can be released from quarantine. A positive result starts the clock again!
Can't see the whole F1 circus being confined to quarantine for an unknown period of time!
Emperor Xi has sent the decree. No foreigners bringing foreign borne disease (tongue firmly in cheek) into his kingdom. Let us hope that his reign is short and the long suffering Chinese people can go back to living freely.
To be honest I think they ought to stay well clear for now, God knows what could happen.
But will be eventually as the event has literally zero chance of going ahead with the still-present entry restrictions that are unlikely to get lifted in time for April.
Yet another cancellation has been an open secret since the race calendar got released & trying to hold the event in April rather than the post-Monza flyaway phase was a mistake from the get-go.