Formula 1 Cancels Chinese Grand Prix 2023 Due To Country's Strict Covid-19 Policies

Due to the nation's zero-COVID policy, China's F1 race, scheduled for April 16 of next year, has been in doubt for a while.

Chinese Grand Prix 2023.

Source : Twitter/@F1

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis in China, the 2023 Chinese Grand Prix will not take place, Formula One said on Friday.

Due to the nation's zero-COVID policy, China's F1 race, scheduled for April 16 of next year, has been in doubt for a while. According to sources who spoke to ESPN, recent developments in the country, including widespread demonstrations against the government, have expedited the decision not to host the race.

Taking to Twitter, Formula One announced: "The 2023 Chinese Grand Prix will not take place due to the ongoing difficulties presented by the COVID-19 situation."

The 2023 Chinese Grand Prix will not take place due to the ongoing difficulties presented by the COVID-19 situation#F1 pic.twitter.com/RQaEplXJvA

— Formula 1 (@F1) December 2, 2022

The postponement calls into question the future of F1's record 24-race season. According to ESPN, the series is in negotiations with numerous venues about filling the vacant slot, but it may still leave it unfilled and reduce the season to 23 races.

F1 aims to make a decision in the coming weeks, with a definitive decision expected in the new year, but it might be before Christmas.

China has not hosted an F1 race since 2019; it was one of the first international athletic events to be cancelled in the weeks preceding the pandemic in 2020.

Zhou Guanyu made his F1 debut this year with the Alfa Romeo team, making him the first Chinese driver in the sport. However, he will have to wait at least another year to compete on home soil.