Formula 1 is close to securing another deal to keep the Chinese Grand Prix on the race calendar in the future. The 2018 calendar was released earlier this year, and it listed both the grand prix in Shanghai and the ever popular night race in Singapore as ‘provisional’.
Sean Bratches confirms planned Chinese Grand Prix contract extension
F1’s new commercial boss Sean Bratches has revealed that a renewed deal for the Chinese Grand Prix is close: “We’ve been working hard with the promoter and we’ve got an agreement in principle,” he told AFP news.
“My suspicion is that it will be executed by the end of next month. Next year the schedule will be released and there will be nothing provisional about Shanghai because we will have a long-term deal,” he added.
Less information is known about the new deal for the Singapore Grand Prix, but Bratches confirmed that more work was going on behind the scenes to add more street races in Asia, perhaps emulating the unique nature of Formula E.
“I’m spending a lot of time reaching out proactively to cities and think ultimately we will realise more street races than we have seen historically,” he said in Shanghai.
When asked if he was specifically talking about races in Asia, he confirmed: “Yes, two.”
The Chinese Grand Prix was first held in 2004 at the Shanghai International Circuit – a Hermann Tilke designed track. The circuit is of a high speed nature and cost $240 million to build, making it one of the most expensive F1 facilities.
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