Last week the Chinese General Administration of Sport blew away FOM plans to travel to Asia and more European races maybe its last resort to have a 15 races season, at least.
The promoter from the Shanghai race intended to stage its race this year, despite the COVID-19 outbreak, and Formula 1 was favourable to do the trip to China, planning to hold another race weekend at Vietnam.
With two back to back races in Asia the logistic effort to ship the cars and the team’s equipment from Europe would be justifiable.
However, the Chinese government announced last Thursday that the country will not be hosting most of its planned international sports events this year, putting in doubt several events including the Formula One race at Shanghai.
Without the Chinese event, also the Vietnam Grand Prix will be called off, as there isn´t any other Asian event this year to tie within that continent – Singapore and Japanese Grand Prix were cancelled.
The American races are also at risk, as the new coronavirus pandemic is at full swing at United States of America, Mexico and Brazil, and at October the temperatures will be too low at Montreal to stage a F1 race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Adding more European Grands Prix to the calendar will be FOM’s only option and along with the race at Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, Imola and Hockenheim may end up with its own races.
The Portuguese circuit may be the last European race before the Middle East tour, as its weather at December is as warm as Silverstone in July.
However, FOM is still trying an exemption for Formula 1 with the Chinese authorities, as it would like to have more races outside Europe.