Report: F1 eyeing Portimao as replacement for the 2023 Chinese GP

Report: F1 eyeing Portimao as replacement for the 2023 Chinese GP

Portugal

The Chinese GP has been scrapped from the 2023 F1 calendar because of the ongoing Convid-19 situation in the Country.

To fill in the void, it has come to light that the hierarchy of the sport is looking to add the Portuguese Grand Prix to the 2023 F1 calendar.

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China has been in a tussle with the Covid-19 pandemic for a long time, and in recent weeks, the Country has seen a sudden rise in the number of infections.

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Moreover, Shanghai, the place for the GP, has been seeing an upward trend in the number of infections since December 1.

Taking everything into account the higher-ups of the sport, have recently decided to part ways with the 2023 Chinese GP and this has allowed Portimao to get in the picture, as far as next year’s F1 calendar is concerned.

Chinese Grand Prix, Race, Shanghai, China, Sunday 12 April 2015 (IMAGO/ Motorsport Images)
Chinese Grand Prix, Race, Shanghai, China, Sunday 12 April 2015 (IMAGO/ Motorsport Images)

In an official statement, F1 recently 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.”

It appears that Portugal has been selected as the preferred destination to stage an F1 race next year

Portugese GP
Portuguese GP

With the unfortunate bowing out of the Chinese GP from the 2023 calendar, the rumors around the Portuguese GP have picked up a tremendous pace.

Moreover, a Portuguese reporter named, Jao Carlos Costa has even gone on to say that F1 has chosen Portimao as a replacement for the race in Shanghai.

Via a Tweet the reporter has added, “Portugal back on the F1 route. Decision imminent – Portimao should replace China on the 2023 calendar.”

F1 cancels the 2023 Chinese Grand Prix due to Covid-19 restrictions
F1

“Small details are still to be resolved before the FIA World Council, scheduled for December 9 in Bologna. Portuguese fans, what a Christmas present!”

Looking at how confident the reporter has sounded, it seems that F1 is strongly looking at the possibility of staging a race in Portugal.

If this happens to be the case next year, then Portimao will make a comeback on the calendar after an absence of 1 year, as it was not able to find a place on this year’s calendar.