F1 season down to 22 races as Russian GP won’t be replaced

Formula 1 will not replace the cancelled Russian Grand Prix and the season will remain at 22 races rather than be a record 23-race championship as originally targeted.

F1 cancelled its Russian GP, and terminated the contract for future races, in the wake of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine earlier this year.

Various options were considered to replace it as F1 wanted to stick to its plan of having a 23-race calendar.

A race in Qatar was the original favourite before concerns emerged around how hot the country would be in late September.

Singapore was in contention to host a double-header but that was always considered to be a major logistical challenge.

Extending the European leg of the season by one race was also an option but ruled out because of the logistical headache it would cause having a European race one week before two grands prix in Asia and then three in the Americas.

F1 has cited the balance between the commercial value of the race and the wider financial and logistical implications as the reason for opting against a replacement.

It will be a popular decision in the paddock as it kills off an awkward triple-header and puts a two-week gap between the European triple-header (comprising Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy) and the back-to-back of Singapore and Japan.

F1’s 2022 schedule after the summer break:

August 28: Belgium
September 4: Netherlands
September 11: Italy
October 2: Singapore
October 9: Japan
October 23: United States
October 30: Mexico
November 13: Brazil
November 20: Abu Dhabi