Chinese GP expected to return in 2024 as Shanghai track gets three-year FIA Grade One licence

Formula 1 aims to put the Chinese Grand Prix back on the calendar as early as next year. For this reason, the Shanghai circuit has just received the green light from inspectors of the International Federation who have reconfirmed the racetrack’s type 1 license, which is required to host a Formula 1 event.

The venue that has hosted the Chinese race since 2004 has not been able to maintain its certification due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The previous authorization had a validity of three years, expiring in 2019, just before the world went into lockdown. For this reason, FIA representatives had not been able to complete their inspections. However, as reported by the Autosport news media outlet, the circuit director, Juss Sport, has now reported that several maintenance works have been carried out along the track since last year.

Maintenance work at the Chinese racetrack

Among the many improvements carried out, the asphalt on the track has also been leveled by correcting the imperfections present along the circuit. The tire barriers have also been partially repaired, and the underground connecting tunnel has been repainted, while various updates have been completed on the grandstands and the external areas.

However, the effort of the Chinese organizers was also rewarded by the Federation of Automobile and Motorcycle Sports of China (CAMF), which in August 2022 granted the racing track the only FIA license level that allows a track to host Formula 1 races and tests again.

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Therefore, the Shanghai track is currently the only one capable of accommodating F1 cars, and as early as April 16 of this year, it was listed as one of the stages of the 2023 calendar. However, as widely predicted, due to some areas of the country which were still in lockdown at the beginning of the year, it was decided to cancel it for 2023.

Next year, however, there will be conditions to return to racing in the Asian country, and an inspector appointed by the FIA will complete the inspection one month before the designated date for the event. Furthermore, the contract between Formula 1 and the track will expire in 2025, and if the Grand Prix is held next year, the promoter has already announced that special celebratory events will be organized to mark the 20th anniversary of the first Formula 1 race in the country.