No decision yet over F1’s two-race proposal for Chinese GP

Formula 1 has proposed that the Shanghai International Circuit could host two races this year, but the city’s government is yet to make a decision.

In February, the Chinese Grand Prix became the first race on the original 2020 calendar to be postponed from its mid-April slot due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the opening 10 events to be shelved.

F1 has already announced an eight-round European leg of the season for its revised 2020 schedule will begin in Austria on July 5 and is currently working to finalise the remainder of the campaign.

Speaking to the Shanghai People’s Radio Station on Monday, Sports Bureau Director Xu Bin confirmed the city is working on bringing back international events including the Chinese Grand Prix.

“F1 has announced they will resume the opening eight European races, without a round in Asia,” he said.

“The event originally scheduled has been postponed to the second half of the year.

“FOM asked whether we could host two races in Shanghai in the discussion. It’s not been decided. It will depend on the pandemic situation.”

China was the first country to be hit with the coronavirus but the Shanghai International Circuit reopened for private events in April as the nation began to recover and the situation improved. 

Last week the Azerbaijan, Canadian and Japanese Grands Prix were added to the list of seven cancellations, with championship bosses expecting more flyaway rounds to be called off.

F1 is subsequently focusing its attentions on Europe and is considering a number of double-header events at circuits not on the original calendar to meet its target of a 15-18 race world championship.

Among the circuits in contention are Mugello and Portimao - neither of which have hosted grand prix racing before - along with former venues Hockenheim and Imola.