Chinese GP organisers target 2023 F1 calendar return as COVID restrictions ease

F1 has been unable to race in China for the past three seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent travel restrictions put in place.

The Chinese GP did appear on the provisional 2023 F1 race calendar, only to be dropped due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, with no replacement event named and the season reduced to 23 rounds.

But at the end of last year, Chinese authorities announced it would end quarantine for travellers coming into the country from 8 January, as part of the country's shift from its zero-COVID policy.

Autosport/Motorsport.com's Chinese sister site has learned that Chinese GP organisers have already held internal discussions and made initial contact with F1, which will pick up after the New Year's Day holidays.

On the provisional 2023 F1 calendar, the Chinese GP was set to take place on 14-16 April with a two-week gap between Australia (31 March-2 April) and Azerbaijan (28-30 April). With no new event named in the updated F1 calendar that slot remains open.

F1's logistics and transport work for flyaway races begin at the end of January, when team equipment is shipped by sea freight, meaning there is sufficient time to restore the race in its original slot if an agreement can be reached.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W10, leads Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes AMG W10, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF90, Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90, and Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15, on the opening lap

Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images

If the Chinese GP can return to the F1 calendar, it would mark Zhou Guanyu's first home race, having missed out during his rookie campaign last year.

Other significant sporting events in China are also set to return in 2023, with the ATP announcing the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament will come back in the Autumn and the Asian Games in Hangzhou is set to take place in September.

The Shanghai International Circuit last held an international motorsport event four years ago, the 2019 Chinese GP, which marked the 1000th F1 world championship race.

If the Chinese GP is restored to the 2023 F1 calendar, it will hold the fourth round of the season following the opener in Bahrain, the Saudi Arabian GP and the Australian GP.