Has been cancelled due to China's policies towards Covid:
https://www.bbc.co.u...rmula1/63713326
Posted 22 November 2022 - 15:41
Posted 22 November 2022 - 15:43
China's zero-Covid policy has led F1 to conclude the race cannot go ahead.
The key sticking point is that F1 staff would not be given exemptions from quarantine requirements in the event of suffering a Covid-19 infection.
F1 feels that it cannot ask teams to go to the country for the race in Shanghai with the risk that staff could be detained for days if they caught coronavirus.
China's latest rules demand that anyone found with Covid-19 must spend five days at an isolation centre plus three days isolation at home.
F1 chairman and chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali has not yet officially called off the race, but the decision is considered an inevitability.
Hard to conclude that F1 has any choice.
Looks like there'll be a big gap between races in April.
Posted 22 November 2022 - 15:44
Posted 22 November 2022 - 15:44
When does their contract run out? I have a feeling we’ll see this every year until that happens.
2025. It was only extended this time last year! Absolute madness as China have shown zero intention to change their utterly insane policies.
Edited by ConsiderAndGo, 22 November 2022 - 15:45.
Posted 22 November 2022 - 15:46
2025. It was only extended this time last year! Absolute madness as China have shown zero intention to change their utterly insane policies.
I wonder which totally unsuitable country F1 will choose to go to instead of China.
Posted 22 November 2022 - 15:52
I wonder which totally unsuitable country F1 will choose to go to instead of China.
No replacement this year, so will be a four week gap.
Posted 22 November 2022 - 15:56
No replacement this year, so will be a four week gap.
I meant after 2025 when the current contract ends.
Posted 22 November 2022 - 15:59
Not confirmed yet.
Posted 22 November 2022 - 16:00
A bit stupid scheduling it in the first place. It was obvious this would happen.
Posted 22 November 2022 - 16:01
No real surprise there. Leaves a big hole in the calender though.Has been cancelled due to China's policies towards Covid:
https://www.bbc.co.u...rmula1/63713326
Posted 22 November 2022 - 16:20
Posted 22 November 2022 - 16:26
Big gaps like that are annoying. Oh well.
Posted 22 November 2022 - 16:30
No real surprise there. Leaves a big hole in the calender though.
It might make sense to put Qatar there, not that anyone has suggested this is an option. Quite close to the MotoGP perhaps.
Liberty are apparently haggling with Baku over whether they can move the race a week earlier.
Posted 22 November 2022 - 16:58
Can't say i'll miss it, sure FOM are deeply upset about missing out on some hosting fees. Why they didn't have a back up plan for this happening is beyond me.
Posted 22 November 2022 - 17:01
Good. Hopefully F1 never goes there again.
Bad.......they'll replace it with another god awful street track.....
Posted 22 November 2022 - 17:14
Excellent news. Hope F1 never goes back there again.
Posted 22 November 2022 - 17:48
Posted 22 November 2022 - 17:49
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Posted 22 November 2022 - 17:57
Opens a gap for Russia to return
Such cynicism! A keen observer of human nature, I see...
Edited by eibyyz, 22 November 2022 - 20:13.
Posted 22 November 2022 - 18:27
When does their contract run out? I have a feeling we’ll see this every year until that happens.
Indeed. I wonder who is losing out here. Normally, if the GP promoter cancels, then they would have to suffer. But it looks like it might be the FIA that is cancelling here as China is not cancelling, but simply insisting on the F1 staff adhering to their travel policy.
Posted 23 November 2022 - 09:12
Hardly surprising given China's ruling party's unwillingness to admit they were wrong with the "zero covid" policy. We'll all be suffering from their periodic lockdowns for many years to come.
As for what, if any, race will replace it?
Russia? Second race in Saudi? Belarus street circuit? Second Qatar grand prix?
If it were me, which it emphatically is not, I'd be lobbying for Turkey or Portugal (Portimao). Actually if it were me I'd not fill the gap and would scrap several existing races as the calendar is ludicrous already.
Posted 23 November 2022 - 09:22
Turkey! Let İstanbul happen. Being Turn 8.I wonder which totally unsuitable country F1 will choose to go to instead of China.
Posted 23 November 2022 - 09:41
Hardly surprising given China's ruling party's unwillingness to admit they were wrong with the "zero covid" policy. We'll all be suffering from their periodic lockdowns for many years to come.
As for what, if any, race will replace it?
Russia? Second race in Saudi? Belarus street circuit? Second Qatar grand prix?
If it were me, which it emphatically is not, I'd be lobbying for Turkey or Portugal (Portimao). Actually if it were me I'd not fill the gap and would scrap several existing races as the calendar is ludicrous already.
Lime Rock Park. I always liked that in Sportscar GT
Posted 23 November 2022 - 09:51
Hardly surprising given China's ruling party's unwillingness to admit they were wrong with the "zero covid" policy. We'll all be suffering from their periodic lockdowns for many years to come.
Posted 23 November 2022 - 10:26
A bit off topic there, I think.
Oh it's beyond COVID now.
...
Perhaps true. But way off topic, I think.
Posted 23 November 2022 - 11:01
Regardless of politics, it's a bit of a shame - it's a decent track.
Posted 23 November 2022 - 11:03
A bit off topic there, I think.
Perhaps true. But way off topic, I think.
Fair point so I'll say no more, but I think it is on topic to state F1 should not be seen racing in China again given that it subjects their population to these draconian measures.
I feel for Zhou though.
Edited by JimmyClark, 23 November 2022 - 11:04.
Posted 23 November 2022 - 11:05
Regardless of politics, it's a bit of a shame - it's a decent track.
Posted 23 November 2022 - 11:06
Posted 23 November 2022 - 11:20
Fair point so I'll say no more, but I think it is on topic to state F1 should not be seen racing in China again given that it subjects their population to these draconian measures.
I feel for Zhou though.
Zhou gets a home race at Silverstone, he's a Yorkshire lad
Posted 23 November 2022 - 11:27
Zhou gets a home race at Silverstone, he's a Yorkshire lad
The UK should give him asylum, whether he wants it or not, as he's the spiritual successor to Mike Hawthorn.
Posted 23 November 2022 - 11:29
Zhou gets a home race at Silverstone, he's a Yorkshire lad
He moved here when he was 13, so I'd hardly call that a 'home' race, well not more than Monaco is for half the grid.
He doesn't have grandstands full of people cheering him on at Silverstone as a home hero like he would in China.
Posted 23 November 2022 - 11:38
I like the Buddh Track as a replacement (runs for cover).
Edited by Nemo1965, 23 November 2022 - 11:39.
Posted 23 November 2022 - 11:45
He moved here when he was 13, so I'd hardly call that a 'home' race, well not more than Monaco is for half the grid.
He doesn't have grandstands full of people cheering him on at Silverstone as a home hero like he would in China.
I'd say someone spending their developmental teenage years and all their adult life in a country makes them very much at home there.
Clearly commercially it's worth him keeping his Chinese nationality to the fore, but he's a Brit too.
Posted 23 November 2022 - 12:14
I'd say someone spending their developmental teenage years and all their adult life in a country makes them very much at home there.
Clearly commercially it's worth him keeping his Chinese nationality to the fore, but he's a Brit too.
My point was I felt sorry for him as he is denied a home race I'm sure he was very much looking forward to. A home race means most of the grandstands full of people rooting for you. He doesn't get that at Silverstone.
He races under the Chinese flag and I'd daresay if he sees Britain as his true home nation he'd have gone for dual citizenship (as far as I'm aware he hasn't? I could be wrong though). Given he has spoken at length about being bulliled for his nationality in his early days of karting in Britain, his Chinese identity is still quite prominent in his thoughts.
Edit: To quote the man himself... https://www.gpfans.c...ix-zhou-guanyu/
"Of course, it's great to see the Chinese Grand Prix is back on the calendar and still we have to do a bit of quarantine back home now when you go back,"[/size]
Despite concerns, Zhou is eager to experience a home race for the first time in F1.[/size]
"This can be a very special event for everyone," added Zhou, China's first full-time F1 driver.
"When you have your home races it's a special moment because, looking at how Max [Verstappen] had the orange army in Zandvoort, it was pretty crazy so hopefully I get similar things in Shanghai."
Edited by JimmyClark, 23 November 2022 - 13:20.
Posted 23 November 2022 - 12:56
Lime Rock Park. I always liked that in Sportscar GT
Modern F1 cars going around Lime Rock. Now that would be a sight...
[Of course it'll never happen, the teams would go over-budget from the repair bills]
Posted 23 November 2022 - 15:11
This is typical prejudice from some people and medias in western world. This is sad.
The first part is factually correct, is it not? And I don't see much wrong with the last part either.
Posted 23 November 2022 - 15:51
As the creator of this thread, please can I ask you all to stay on topic otherwise the thread will probably be locked.
Thank you.
Posted 23 November 2022 - 15:59
I suggest they go back to Malaysia.
This would make most sense, but it would need the Malaysians to want to do it. They haven't shown much enthuasism for bringing F1 back recently.
I would give that Kuwait Motorcity circuit a go to see what its like, and I'm sure their government would be up for it.
Edited by JimmyClark, 23 November 2022 - 15:59.
Posted 23 November 2022 - 16:09
The UK should give him asylum, whether he wants it or not, as he's the spiritual successor to Mike Hawthorn.
Posted 23 November 2022 - 16:21
Nay lad, he isn't paying with his own brass. He saves that for his weekly trips to Greggs.
Posted 23 November 2022 - 17:29
This would make most sense, but it would need the Malaysians to want to do it. They haven't shown much enthuasism for bringing F1 back recently.
I would give that Kuwait Motorcity circuit a go to see what its like, and I'm sure their government would be up for it.
I was assuming that had to do with the outrageous terms that Liberty demands, which mostly seem reasonable to oil-rich nations and dictators
Posted 23 November 2022 - 17:38
I was assuming that had to do with the outrageous terms that Liberty demands, which mostly seem reasonable to oil-rich nations and dictators
Yes, this is most likely, judging by their quotes from April:
"We should look at the big picture holistically, at how F1 can benefit not only the company but also Malaysia in terms of branding, ability to provide employment opportunities, talent development, and others," Azhan Shafriman was quoted as saying by BERNAMA, the Malaysian government news agency."So when we pay for the relatively high [F1] organising rights, the return should be high overall, not only from the [circuit] aspect."
BERNAMA added that Azhan Shafriman indicated that he felt Malaysia should prioritise recovery from the pandemic over hosting a Grand Prix.
https://racingnews36...ysian-gp-return
Posted 23 November 2022 - 17:38
Just give the spot to Francorchamps as of 2024
Posted 23 November 2022 - 23:29
Regardless of politics, it's a bit of a shame - it's a decent track.
I hear the Chinese take out is second to none…
Posted 23 November 2022 - 23:56
I hear the Chinese take out is second to none…
I'd like to order a stir-fried GP to go, hold the DRS.
Posted 24 November 2022 - 09:20
I suggest they go back to Malaysia.
I know the Malaysian government isn't keen on funding the race, and there seems no private sponsor on the horizon....but yes, I'd be quite in favour of a return to Sepang. Excellent track and after a few grands prix there it became quite a destination for locals and fans travelling internationally. Never made the country any money though, due to the high hosting fee. Which is a shame. Because these cars on that track could be a winning combo.
I feel for Zhou, it's a crying shame he doesn't get his home race. But I can fully see all the reasons why. Time for him to buy a whippet, flat cap and start drinking ale.
Posted 24 November 2022 - 10:25
I hear the Chinese take out is second to none…