Realistic options and wishes to replace the Chinese Grand Prix

The extremely tight containment measures of the coronavirus pandemic still in force in China makes it impossible for the Chinese Grand Prix to take place again next season. Formula 1 has therefore already announced the cancellation of the Shanghai race, but it is not yet known whether it will be replaced on the calendar and if so by which Grand Prix. GPBlog has decided to play a little with the imagination, presenting some more realistic options and others that are destined to remain a mere wish.

Portimao

The Autodromo Internacional do Algarve would be the most realistic option if Formula 1 decided to keep 24 races on the calendar. The Portuguese circuit hosted the F1 circus already in 2020 and 2021, first to make up for defections due to the pandemic, then to take the place of the Vietnam GP. The circuit is fairly new, having been inaugurated in 2008, and currently also hosts MotoGP races.

The circuit has been much appreciated by fans, who would welcome a return of Formula 1 to Portugal, as would Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton. In fact, the two editions of the Portuguese GP held at the Algarve were both won by the British driver, although the circuit's fastest lap was held by his former teammate Valtteri Bottas.

Istanbul

We remain in the realm of realistic speculation by moving to Turkey. The Istanbul circuit has already been the scene of a Grand Prix from 2005 to 2011 and then in 2020 and 2021, like Portimao to replace other dates cancelled due to the pandemic. The fact that it has hosted Formula 1 recently is also being considered to replace the Chinese GP.

The Turkish track is generally appreciated by fans and drivers alike and has a very rare feature on the F1 calendar: it is run anti-clockwise. In the past, however, it has not always gone smoothly in Istanbul, between the thorny political issues and the lack of spectators in the stands. Also in Turkey the last two editions have been won by Mercedes, once by Lewis Hamilton and once by Valtteri Bottas.

Sepang

Here we begin to delve into hypotheses that are difficult or even impossible. The Malaysian Grand Prix was held regularly from 1999 to 2017, but has not been on the calendar since. The circuit is among the most functional ever, especially in terms of grandstands and service areas, and the track itself - designed by Herrman Tilke - also generally receives positive reviews.

The race was not held in recent years due to the financial difficulties of the organisers, which arose after the withdrawal of the major sponsor Petronas. Also for financial reasons, the organisers themselves do not want to rush the return of the Malaysian GP to the calendar. Moreover, having the Singapore GP just a few kilometres away could discourage the return of the Sepang race, even though logistically it would be perfect for 2023 as it would have to be inserted between Australia and Azerbaijan.

Kyalami

For years many Formula 1 fans have been calling for the return of the South African Grand Prix. Next year, however, it will be 30 years since the last race held at the Kyalami circuit, won by Alain Prost in a Williams. Since then there has not been a Formula One race in Africa, and this is seen as a big miss.

Lewis Hamilton has expressed his appreciation for a possible return to the calendar of a race on the African continent, and in general, Kyalami is a circuit that would meet most needs. The track, which was recently renovated, had been seriously considered for inclusion in the 2023 calendar, but subsequent inspections still revealed shortcomings. The hope of many is to see it then in 2024.

Hockenheim/Nurburgring

It seems incredible to say, but the German Grand Prix has been missing from the calendar since 2019. Bringing F1 there next year would mean returning to a country that has millions of fans and has made motorsport history. Many champions such as Vettel and Schumacher are from Germany. However, the organisers have already closed the door on the option of returning in 2023. The Nurburgring is already occupied on the date when the GP should be held, while for Hockenheim it was said that there would eventually be interest in sitting down at the table with F1 for the future.

Germany has gone in a few years from having two races on the calendar at the same time to having none at all, due to the financial problems that first caused the two venues to alternate and then the Nurburgring and then Hockenheim to capitulate. A return to one of the two historic tracks would certainly also be good for German motorsport, which has been experiencing a major crisis in recent years.

Mugello

The 2020 Formula 1 season has been very unusual. Due to the numerous cancellations because of the pandemic, F1 had to ingenuity to ensure a satisfactory number of races on the calendar. Among the circuits chosen for this purpose was Mugello, located in Tuscany. The circuit is owned by Ferrari and is often used for testing by the Scuderia and others, but it is mainly the venue for the MotoGP Italian GP.

The circuit is beloved by the drivers, in fact Mark Webber even said "In terms of satisfaction, 10 laps in the dry at Mugello are worth as much as 1 000 in Abu Dhabi," and the fans have also come to love it in the only edition of the Tuscan GP, won by Lewis Hamilton. For next year, unfortunately, a return to the calendar does not seem realistic, also because two races are already run in Italy, but for the future the doors do not seem to be definitively closed.