Thread by @JunaidSamodien_

#AMuS The Chinese Grand Prix has been given a place on the 2023 racing calendar. But in the paddock, many doubt that Formula 1 will actually drive in Shanghai next year. The reason is the strict Corona requirements.

For three years, Formula 1 gave China a wide berth. The pandemic and the strict corona policy in the Middle Kingdom made the Asia trip impossible for a long time. But in 2023 the spook should finally be over. The premier class is planning a celebratory return to Shanghai.

As the fourth race of the year, the China Grand Prix on April 16 was added to the 2023 F1 calendar. In order to gain more time, the F1 bosses were actually happy to move the event to autumn. But in the end, the FIA ​​pushed for a speedy release of the calendar.

#AMuS

There was no time for further negotiations with the local organizers. So the traditional spring date in mid-April was chosen again without further ado. This leaves less than six months to prepare for the comeback.

#AMuS

But currently hardly anyone in the paddock believes that the Grand Prix can actually be held. In his opening speech at the 20th Communist Party Congress, head of state and party leader Xi Jinping rejected all hopes of a relaxation of the strict corona policy.

#AMuS

The People's Republic will continue to adhere to the strict zero-Covid strategy in the future. For fear of the big autumn wave, citizens in Shanghai still have to regularly take part in mass tests.

#AMuS

Even with minor outbreaks, businesses are closed and people locked in their homes for isolation. According to the current status, all spectators who want to go to the track would have to submit a negative test.

#AMuS

The organizer is afraid that he will therefore not be able to fill the grandstands and will be left with the high Grand Prix fees. Strict entry requirements apply to guests from abroad. Two negative PCR tests from two different test centers are required before departure.

#AMuS

Of course, there will be another test on site. In addition, a ten-day quarantine in central facilities is on the program for all visitors after landing, which is of course completely unrealistic in the tight Formula 1 calendar.

#AMuS

There was also the problem of getting there. The number of flight connections is currently very limited. Lufthansa currently only flies from Frankfurt to Shanghai on Mondays and Tuesdays. There is also a connection from China Eastern Airlines every Wednesday.

#AMuS

It doesn't look any better from London either. So that the reduced offer pays off despite low occupancy, business class tickets currently cost five-digit euros. In general, the teams’ desire to return to the country of origin of the corona virus is limited.

#AMuS

The race is isolated two weeks after Australia and two weeks before Azerbaijan. Because you can't combine it with other Grands Prix, the logistics costs are correspondingly high.

#AMuS

Although on the other hand there is also high income from the F1 fees, one would like to save the strenuous journey. Incidentally, there is no substitute candidate for Shanghai. A cancellation would mean a four-week break right after the third race in Melbourne.

#AMuS

In the Formula 1 headquarters, however, they are said to be already discussing putting the Baku race on the China date. Then the gap would be filled and the actually planned double header Baku-Miami would be equalized.

#AMuS

Criticism came from the teams immediately after the calendar was published. At the beginning of the season there's a lot of leeway between the races, but at the end it's one after the other.

#AMuS

A more even distribution would have reduced both the burden on employees and the costs.

auto-motor-und-sport.de/formel-1/gp-ch…