Chinese Grand Prix cancelled over COVID

The Chinese Grand Prix that was due to take place next year has been cancelled.

Formula 1 said the Shanghai event set to take place on 16 April would not take place “due to ongoing difficulties presented by the COVID-19 situation”.

The sport is now facing a four-week hole in the 2023 calendar with the defunct round in China sandwiched between races in Melbourne on 2 April and Azerbaijan on 30 April.

But it is understood F1 bosses are in dialogue with a number of interested venues about filling the gap to ensure a record 24 rounds still go ahead.

A statement from F1 said: “Formula 1 can confirm, following dialogue with the promoter and relevant authorities, that the 2023 Chinese Grand Prix will not take place due to the ongoing difficulties presented by the COVID-19 situation.

“Formula 1 is assessing alternative options to replace the slot on the 2023 calendar and will provide an update on this in due course.”

The cancellation of the race in China marks the fourth season it has been scrubbed from the schedule, despite F1 extending its contract with the Chinese Grand Prix to 2025 just last year..

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The last time the race went ahead in 2019, it was won by Sir Lewis Hamilton on his way to his sixth world title.

The 2023 season will start in Bahrain on March 5 and conclude in Abu Dhabi on November 26.

China has recently been rocked by protests over its stringent zero-COVID policies.

Rare scenes of open descent were seen in cities across the country, including Shanghai, as the ruling Communist Party continued with lockdowns and quarantine requirements.

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However some cities have now started to lift restrictions.

Less than 24 hours after violent protests in Guangzhou, officials in at least seven districts of the sprawling port city north of Hong Kong announced they were lifting lockdowns.

The softening stance follows quarantine protocols earlier in the year which saw entire communities locked down, sometimes for weeks, after even just one positive case was found.

National health officials said earlier in the week that China would respond to “urgent concerns” raised by the public and that COVID rules should be implemented more flexibly, according to the severity of outbreaks in each region.

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