Why Is Chinese GP Returning After 5 Years in 2024?

The Chinese Grand Prix has been missing from the F1 calendar since 2019. Following that year, the FOM decided to discontinue with the Chinese Grand Prix until 5 years later. This year will mark the return of the Shangai circuit and for many drivers, this is unexplored territory. Logan Sargent and Oscar Piastri are two strong examples of this. However, the Chinese Grand Prix is back now and fans cannot wait to see what unfolds.

Despite having experience on the track, drivers will still not be able to push themselves to the maximum as there might be differences in how the track feels. The F1 regulations have changed, bringing in the rule of having 19-inch rims for the car and Pirelli will not be able to perform a track test. Now that being said, why did the FOM decide to bring the Chinese GP back to the 2024 calendar?

Return of China to the F1 calendar

Recent news from China suggests a change in their COVID-19 policies. According to a tweet by @F1_naija referencing Bloomberg, China plans to eliminate all quarantine measures for COVID-19 starting January 8, 2023 including those for inbound visitors. The tweet from December 2022 might be out of date and a year early to announce the return, but then F1 made an official statement on December 2nd regarding the cancellation of the Chinese Grand Prix for 2023. Despite the news from 2022, this year, fans get to see the circuits make their way back to China to revisit a track that was almost lost to the past.

“China will scrap all quarantine measures for Covid-19 starting Jan. 8, including requirements for inbound visitors. It is possible that the Chinese Grand Prix will return to the calendar for 2023 as a result of this recent developments.” While this announcement was from 2022, the FOM took one extra year to make it happen. That being said, the change in policy raises the possibility of the Chinese Grand Prix returning to the calendar for the 2023 season.

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In order to find another replacement circuit to put on the calendar, the FOM stated, “Formula 1 is assessing alternative options to replace the slot on the 2023 calendar and will provide an update on this in due course.” Many drivers have been vocal about the intensity of a 24-race season with some saying that its too long. Max Verstappen has been the most vocal about this incident, even going forward to say that he will retire from the sport if the number of races increases.

Why was the Chinese Grand Prix canceled in 2020?

The simple and direct answer to this question is Covid-19. China being the place of origin for the virus, the FOM was forced to take the track out of the calender for safety measures. The Chinese Grand Prix was initially canceled for the 2020 season due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation.

Even for the 2023 Chinese Grand Prix, the FOM stated, “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.” 

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It has been a while since we have seen the single seaters race in China and this gap will bring about some surprising results. None of the drivers are familiar with the track as a 5 year gap makes them loose their muscle memory which is key for mastering a track. That being said, the track has also not been mapped for the new rim size regulations and Pirelli had something to say about it.

What did Pirelli say about the Chinese Grand Prix’s return?

Since the last race in Shanghai, there have been substantial changes to the F1 technical regulations, notably the switch to 18-inch tires. This changes how the cars work and feel on each track and drivers have had to almost re-learn driving from scratch to get the precision and tyre management perfected.

Unlike new venues or tracks that haven’t been used for a while, Pirelli hasn’t been able to send engineers in advance to assess the track surface. The Chinese Grand Prix will be the first sprint weekend of the 2024 season with only one practice session before qualifying for the sprint event. The teams and drivers have limited time to familiarize themselves with the circuit and optimize their setups.

Despite the lack of early track assessment, Pirelli remains confident in the compound choices it has made for the race. The tire selection includes a middle range of compounds (C2, C3, C4) to cover various possibilities. The softer C5 compound was deemed too soft, while the harder C1 compound was considered too conservative for the track.

That being said, are you ready for the return of the Chinese Grand Prix to the F1 calendar? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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