Formula 1

Why has the 2023 Chinese Grand Prix been cancelled?

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The Chinese Grand Prix has not been a part of the Formula One calendar since 2019 – and the 2023 version was cancelled recently

Formula One officially confirmed last week that the Chinese Grand Prix won’t take place in 2023. The decision comes because of China’s dangerous Covid-19 situation which has also seen public protests against the government throughout the country. The cancellation also means that F1’s record 24-race season is in doubt unless the authorities can find a late replacement before the start of the new season.

Credits: Twitter

China has not hosted an F1 race since 2019. It was one of the first international sporting events to be cancelled in 2020 in the weeks leading up to the pandemic. In 2022, Zhou Guanyu became F1’s first driver from China, debuting with the Alfa Romeo team, but he will have to wait at least another year for a chance to race on home track.

How are the teams shaping up ahead of the 2023 F1 season?

The new season of Formula One is about four months away, but teams already seem to have completed their drivers’ lineup for 2023. The 2023 F1 grid will see several new faces while we will certainly miss four-time World Champion, Sebastian Vettel, who retired at the end of the 2022 season. Let us take a look at the teams and drivers who are set to be a part of the 2023 F1 World Championship.

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Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc (R) and Ferrari’s Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jr (L) compete in the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah on December 5, 2021. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

There will be three debutants in the F1 grid next season – Nyck de Vries (Alpha Tauri), Oscar Piastri (McLaren) and Logan Sargeant (Williams). We will also see the full-time return of Nico Hulkenberg for the first time since 2019, who has replaced Mick Schumacher at Haas. Meanwhile, Aston Martin has roped in two-time World Champion, Fernando Alonso to fill the spot vacated by the retiring Sebastian Vettel.

McLaren has brought in Oscar Piastri after Alonso’s departure from the team. Yuki Tsunoda has moved on to Alpha Tauri while Alpine have signed Esteban Ocon to partner Gasly in the Japanese driver’s place. Nicholas Latifi, Mick Schumacher and Daniel Ricciardo will unfortunately miss out and won’t be a full-time part of the F1 grid next season, as things stand.

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Sarbik Dutta

My heart races on the F1 track and tennis courts, translating the adrenaline of each moment into words. While F1's speed thrills and tennis's finesse captivate me, my passion doesn't stop there. As a devoted follower of cricket, football, and various Olympic sports, I find myself engulfed in the highs and lows of these games. Through my writing, I aim to share the stories behind the stats, the emotions fueling the victories, and the struggles that define the journey of athletes across diverse disciplines. Being a voice that echoes the fervor of these sports is a privilege I cherish every day.

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