F1 asks China if it can stage two races in 2020 despite fears of second coronavirus outbreak

Chinese Grand Prix was the first race to be scrapped following the coronavirus outbreak, but 27 new positive cases in China on Monday has prompted fears that the country could suffer from a second outbreak

Formula One has asked China whether it would be possible to stage two races at the Shanghai International circuit in the coming months as the 2020 season continues to be redrawn in an effort to complete a campaign worthy of a world championship.

F1 announced last week that Japan, Singapore and Azerbaijan will not hold races this season, significantly reducing the options open on the 2020 calendar outside of Europe.

The Formula One Group has already announced an eight-race European schedule to begin the season from 3 July, but hopes of then moving on to an expanded campaign around the globe have had to be shelved somewhat due to the change in status of the calendar regulars.

Officials still hope to end the season with double-headers in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, but to fill the gap between the end of the European leg and the Middle East finale, F1 are discussing multiple options - one of which includes adding more unfamiliar European tracks such as Imola and Portimao in the Algarve.

But it has emerged that China could also return to the calendar, despite being the first race to be removed from the 2020 season when the coronavirus outbreak reached pandemic levels back in March.

"FOM asked us if it is possible for Shanghai to hold two races," Shanghai Administration of Sports director Xu Bin was quoted as saying by state news agency Xinhua.

"We have not made the final decision, depending on the potential changes of the epidemic situation."

The Chinese Grand Prix was initially due to be staged on 17-19 April in Shanghai, but was postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak in the city of Wuhan. More than eight million people have been affected by the virus worldwide, while there are also fears of a second-wave outbreak in China after officials yesterday reported 27 new cases in Beijing on 15 June.

China has been cautious about resuming professional sport even as neighbouring South Korea, Japan and Taiwan have restarted football and baseball leagues.

The top-flight Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league will resume on Saturday in two central hubs in Qingdao and Dongguan but no fans will be present.

The Chinese Super League (CSL) football league, which was scheduled to get underway on 22 February, will resume in July "if everything goes well", Xinhua quoted Xu as saying.

Xu said the administration had been talking to many international sports organisations in recent months about hosting events in China's financial capital.

Additional reporting by Reuters