How F1’s arrival in China proved a success in unexpected ways
OPINION: As Formula 1 prepares to return to China for the first time since 2019, MARK GALLAGHER looks back on the race’s origins and why it has proved so important
It is bizarre to consider a new season which starts on the last day of February and runs until the second week in December. Not only is it Formula 1’s most ambitious ever calendar, it’s the first to lay COVID to rest. Isn’t that in the past?
Not if you live in China, a country which hasn’t hosted its grand prix since 2019. Notwithstanding further pandemics, when the cars exit the pitlane at Shanghai International Circuit on 21 April it will be five years and one week since Lewis Hamilton won the sixteenth running of the Chinese GP.
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.