F1: China offered two races this year, Shanghai official says
- Head of Shanghai Sports Bureau tells state media of invite but no decision has been made
- Chinese Grand Prix was set for April 19 before coronavirus curtailed calendar, now F1 officials scramble to host 15-18 races
China has been invited to host two Formula One races in Shanghai this season but no decision has been reached over whether to accept the offer, the head of the Shanghai Sports Bureau has told local media.
The Chinese Grand Prix was supposed to take place at the Shanghai International circuit on April 19 but was postponed until later in the year because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Formula One Management (FOM) still hope to run 15-18 races this year and have announced a revised and shortened provisional European schedule set to start in Austria without spectators on July 5.
“FOM asked us if it is possible for Shanghai to hold two races,” Shanghai Administration of Sports director Xu Bin was quoted as saying by state news agency Xinhua.
“We have not made the final decision, depending on the potential changes of the epidemic situation.”
The novel coronavirus emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year and has now infected more than eight million people worldwide.