PARTNERS and families of people who work in F1 must be wondering what has happened — because their loved ones still have another week at home.
It seems like a long time ago that we had the Australian Grand Prix.
Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu has joined Alfa Romeo
And there are still 12 days to go until the Azerbaijan GP.
Aside from the winter off-season, where there are obviously no races, such a spell at home is unheard of.
For context, the travel demands in F1 were once so tough that an enforced two-week break was inserted into the rulebook — known as the summer shutdown — amid rocketing divorce rates within the sport.
This season sees, for the first time, an enforced winter break as teams rightly consider the impact a gruelling schedule has on their workforce.
The 2023 season is the longest in the sport’s history — 266 days across 23 races running from the start of March to the end of November.
It would have been 24 but for the decision to cancel the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai — which caused this unexpected four-week break.
This time at home might be welcome, but for Formula One it represents a problem and raises a question about the future of this race.
The schedule is limited to a maximum of 24 races and organisers of the Chinese GP are allocated one of those slots and have another two years left to run on their contract.
Yet with the other 23 slots all signed up, it means F1 is at the mercy of China.
By that I don’t mean the organisers of the GP, but the country’s Covid stance, including on quarantine, and their ability to process the incoming freight and subsequent logistics.
It was a combination of both that saw the trigger pulled on this year’s race, F1 acting swiftly in December but maybe not quick enough to thrash out a deal for a suitable replacement.
There is some suggestion from sources in China that F1 chiefs were too hasty to cancel this year’s race — but maybe that was done so as to find an alternative race.
F1 has to include the Chinese GP as part of its planning, but that means bosses are not able to sell that spot on the calendar to another bidder.
Be that South Africa, Turkey, a second race in Saudi Arabia, or to whoever stumped up the cash.
A hastily-arranged deal would not be as lucrative, not to mention cause a logistical problem for teams.
The reality is that there has been no Chinese GP since 2019.
But since then, a Chinese driver has joined the grid in Zhou Guanyu, who races for Alfa Romeo.
And we are yet to see the full impact his arrival in the sport has had back home.
There are currently just two Asian races on this year’s calendar — Japan and Singapore. The Middle East has twice as many.
The simple fact is, F1 cannot really afford to have an unknown each year when it comes to the Chinese GP.
Should they just bite the bullet and cancel the contract?
However, with the potential for investment and sponsorship — not to mention a huge TV audience — can they afford not to at least give it another go?
For what it is worth, I firmly believe that there will be another Chinese GP in Shanghai, I am just not too sure when that will be.
LOAD OF BULL
Daniil Kvyat felt betrayed by Red Bull
DANIIL KVYAT says he felt “betrayed” and “stabbed in the back” when Red Bull demoted him to Toro Rosso in favour of Max Verstappen in 2016.
Kvyat, 28, once dubbed ‘The Torpedo’ for the way he crashed into people, is now racing for Lamborghini in their World Endurance Championship.
He has also detached himself from Russia, the country of his birth and will compete under his Italian racing licence.
RIN-CREDIBLE
Alex Rins won the MotoGP in Austin
IT IS amazing to think that Alex Rins’ victory for Honda in Austin was the team’s first win in 539 days and 24 Grands Prix.
The Japanese giants have the biggest budget and most resources in MotoGP and, finally, they have broken their horror run.
Spaniard Rins was able to capitalise after world champion Pecco Bagnaia slid off while leading the race.
The Italian had dominated all weekend at the Circuit of the Americas but has been left rattled by his second expensive error in consecutive races.
He said: “Now it’s another week in a row, I don’t know why. So I am quite angry and disappointed — but not with myself.
“I am 100 per cent sure it wasn’t my fault. We have to understand it, we don’t know how it’s happening.”
E-XCITED
Felipe Drugovich will drive for Maserati
FORMULA E is returning this weekend in Berlin.
The series then holds a rookie test on Monday where F2 champ Felipe Drugovich will drive for Maserati MSG Racing.
Brits Jonny Edgar and Jack Aitken test for Envision.
MORE SEATS
Two new grandstands are set to be built for the Singapore GP
SINGAPORE GP chiefs put in two new grandstands for September’s race due to increased ticket demand.
But those hoping to go need to get in quick because even those are selling fast and it is close to a sell-out.
GOR BLIMEY
Gordon Murray unveiled the new T.33 Spider
I ATTENDED Goodwood’s 80th Members’ Meeting at the weekend.
The highlights were seeing the Lotus Cortina race plus the unveiling of the new T.33 Spider by legendary F1 designer Gordon Murray.
