Picture Credit: Twitter
In the latest development on Wednesday, Formula One revealed that there will be no replacement for the Russian Grand Prix for the 2022 season calendar. This means that the season will have only 22 races in place of 23 planned races. Notably, the Russian GP was discarded from the 2022 calendar after top officials decided to not race in the country following its invasion of Ukraine.
The announcement was made on Wednesday on the official website. “The 2022 Formula 1 calendar will now run to 22 races rather than the originally planned 23, following the decision not to replace the Russian Grand Prix,” read the statement from Formula 1.
“It was announced on February 25 that, following meetings between Formula 1, the FIA and the teams, the championship would not race at the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi, which was set to be held on September 23-25."
“But it’s now been revealed that there will be no additional Grand Prix added to the calendar to fill the gap – meaning the 2022 calendar will run to 22 races”, it further read.
Different challenges force F1 to stick to 22 races
Earlier, the sport had said it would fill the slot with various options like Qatar, Turkey, and the second race in Singapore available. However, some tough challenges forced Formula one to opt otherwise. While holding another race in Europe was considered too much of a logistical challenge, the temperatures in Qatar did not permit adding it to this year's calendar.
Also, the sport had to balance the commercial value of holding a 23rd race over the additional costs placed on all concerned, with teams already wrestling with inflationary pressures and more expensive hotels and flights. Now, with only 22 races this season, there will be a two-weekend break between the Aug 28 to Sept. 11 European triple-header of Belgium-Netherlands-Italy and Singapore-Japan on Oct 2 and 9.
While the 2022 season sees one race lesser, the next season is set to expand with a Las Vegas night race set to debut as a third round in the United States.