Which Grand Prix to replace Russia on the calendar?
As sanctions continue to pile up against Russia since the start of the invasion in Ukraine, let's take a look at the potential circuits that could replace the Russian Grand Prix if it were to be permanently canceled.
A few days ago, Formula 1 announced the suspension of the Russian Grand Prix with immediate effect.
If the absolute cancellation has not yet been announced, the future of the Russian round is more uncertain than ever. And there is no shortage of candidates to replace it on the calendar in September.
The clear favorite for this position is currently the Turkish Grand Prix. After a 9-year absence, Istanbul Park returned in 2020 following the health crisis and has hosted the F1 for the past two years, equipped with all the necessary infrastructure. As a reminder, last year, this Grand Prix followed the Russian Grand Prix, which is also an advantage.
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But it is obviously not the only option. The date being set for September 25th at the end of the European tour, many other circuits are credible candidates. The Portuguese Grand Prix could also lay claim to this date, being in the same situation as Turkey with two races being held back-to-back.
Slightly less credible in terms of the economic aspect, the Mugello circuit should also not be ruled out, as it hosted a race in 2020. Another advantage of this circuit is its proximity to the previous Grand Prix in Monza, which could have an influence.
Unless F1 decides, as in previous seasons, to double up the races on the same circuit. In this game, the Red Bull Ring acts as a scarecrow with the Styrian Grand Prix, although Bahrain and its Outer Track could also be potential candidates.
Finally, among the unlikely races, we could mention the German Grand Prix, which is no longer on the calendar for economic reasons despite the appearance of the grid at the Nürburgring in 2020. The same goes for Malaysia, which lost its race since the end of 2016. There is also no chance of going to Losail in Qatar, as the country is actively preparing for the World Cup.
There is no doubt that we will have a fairly quick response to this question, the FIA having decided to organize an extraordinary meeting this Tuesday concerning the current situation.
The matter to follow.
