Formula 1 confirms that there will be no relay for the Russian GP on the 2022 calendar, so the season will no longer have 23 races, but 22, as it did last year. The Sochi test was canceled in February with the start of the war in Ukraine and in recent months the championship had negotiated with several candidates. Qatar was discussed and a one-two finish in Singapore was also considered to occupy the void at the Adler track, but in the end it was decided not to replace the race that was lost because the logistical costs to sustain a transoceanic triplet (Russia was followed by Singapore and Japan in the original calendar) have advised it. Candidates have not been lacking, but it has been decided to decongest the dates.
Thus, there will be a gap of two weeks without competition between the Italian GP at Monza (September 11) and the Singapore GP at Marina Bay (October 2). No Formula 1 calendar had had a break like that in recent years, outside of the August break. The paddock From then on, they will face the now Asian double (Singapore-Japan), an American double (Austin-Mexico) and another transatlantic (Sao Paulo-Abu Dhabi) before ending the season on November 20, earlier than usual, so as not to interfere with the World Cup in Qatar. In any case, the 23 races will come sooner rather than later. In 2023 China returns and Las Vegas enters. There will be casualties, there is talk of France and perhaps Belgium.