The Portuguese Grand Prix could return to the calendar in 2023, with Portimao seeking to replace China’s cancelled race.
Formula 1 has opted to call off the 2023 Chinese Grand Prix due to the country’s strict zero-Covid policy that is currently in place.
The sport has not raced in China since 2019.
The cancellation of the Shanghai race leaves a one-month gap between the rounds in Australia and Azerbaijan.
Portugal has been tipped to be included on next year’s calendar as its replacement.
According to Portuguese news station SIC Notícias, organisers are negotiating a €25 million fee to bring F1 back to the Algarve.
The Portimao circuit was absent from the 2022 schedule, but appeared in 2020 and 2021 during the Covid-19 affected campaigns.
The race was won on both occasions by Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.
However, an issue exists as the fourth round of the 2023 season is scheduled for April 16, which could create difficulties for F1 and the FIA.
Currently, the second round of the World Endurance Championship is scheduled to be held in Portimao on the same date.
However, as it is also an FIA-sanctioned series, negotiations to uncover a solution may not be overly arduous.
In 2018, WEC changed the date of the 6 Hours of Fuji to allow Fernando Alonso to compete, as he also held a full-time role with McLaren in F1 at the time.
