The Chinese Grand Prix was absent from the record 2022 calendar in terms of the number of races, which was also 23 this season, but the Corona virus reduced the number to 22 races.
The FIA justified the reason for the absence of the China award from the calendar for the third consecutive season, saying in a statement, “Due to the ongoing epidemiological conditions, China will not be included in the 2022 calendar. China will be returned to the calendar as soon as conditions permit.”
The current season, which reached its seventeenth round (the Americas Prize on the 24th of this month at the Austin circuit in Texas), also consists of 23 races, but the repercussions of the Corona virus led to the cancellation of the races of Australia, China, Canada, Singapore and Japan.
The Formula 1 and FIA management compensated these races by holding two races at the Austrian Spielberg circuit, including the Qatar and Saudi prizes for the first time, and the Netherlands prize, which recorded its return to the first category for the first time since 1985.
After 16 rounds this season, Dutch Red Bull driver Max Verstappen leads the standings (262.5 points) ahead of world champion Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton (256.5 points).
It is expected that matters will not be resolved until the final round scheduled in Abu Dhabi on December 12, after going through the races of the Americas (current 24), Mexico (November 7), Sao Paulo (November 14), Qatar (November 21) and Saudi Arabia (December 5).
In contrast to the current season, where it will be the penultimate round, the Saudi Grand Prix will form the second round of the next season on March 27, followed by Australia, which was absent from the calendar for the last two years due to Corona, on April 10.
The Qatar Prize will be absent from the calendar, which is still not final for some circuits, pending the signing of the contract with Formula 1 (Italy’s Imola, Barcelona, Singapore and Austin) or the technical approval of FIA (Miami).
According to the ten-year contract signed with the authorities, the Qatar Prize will return to the calendar as of 2023 after it entered the 2021 calendar by virtue of circumstances in order to fill the void left by canceling the Australian Prize (it was scheduled at the beginning of the season and then postponed to November 21 before the decision was taken to cancel it due to Travel restrictions related to the coronavirus.
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