F1 looks to stage two Grand Prix in China this year

The Chinese organisers of the Shanghai F1 race have reportedly been offered the option to stage two races when the 2020 season restarts.

Looking to stage 15 of the season’s original schedule of 18 races, the offer from Formula One Management (FOM) has yet to be accepted, according to the head of the Shanghai Sports Bureau.

The Chinese Grand Prix was supposed to take place at the Shanghai International circuit on 19th April but was postponed until later in the year because of the Coronavirus outbreak.

FOM has already announced a revised and shortened provisional European schedule set to start in Austria without spectators on 5th July.

Shanghai Administration of Sports Director Xu Bin was quoted as saying by state news agency Xinhua “FOM asked us if it is possible for Shanghai to hold two races.

“We have not made the final decision, depending on the potential changes of the epidemic situation.”

China has been cautious about resuming professional sport even as neighbouring South Korea, Japan and Taiwan have restarted football and baseball leagues. The top-flight Chinese Basketball Association league will resume on Saturday in two central hubs in Qingdao and Dongguan, but no fans will be present.

Football’s Chinese Super League, which was scheduled to get underway on 22nd February, would resume in July “if everything goes well”, Xinhua quoted Xu as saying.

Xu said the administration had been talking to many international sports organisations in recent months about hosting events in China’s financial capital.

The news comes as the Chinese capital of Beijing reported 27 new Coronavirus cases, stoking fears of a second wave of the respiratory disease.

FOM has already announced a revised and shortened provisional European schedule set to start in Austria without spectators on 5th July.

The Australian, Azerbaijan, Japan and Singapore races have been abandoned by F1 for 2020.