Apologies in advance if I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but this year’s Formula 1 calendar really doesn’t make sense, does it?

I bring it up again after confirmation from F1 that the Chinese Grand Prix would not be replaced in 2023 and the schedule was set at 23 races. Now, you might have expected a more positive response to an extended break during the season, and I admit 23 races rather than 24 seems that bit more palatable to the teams and their hard-working employees, but it still raises questions.

Shanghai’s cancellation due to uncertainty over potential restrictions arriving in other countries from China after the race, and the decision not to arrange another grand prix in its place on April 16 — according to F1 there were options but when assessed in full the decision was taken not to proceed — leaves a four-week period between the Australian Grand Prix on April 2 and the next race being held in Azerbaijan on April 30.

One race in five weeks will be followed by five races in six weeks

I don’t get it.

Just three races into the season, when momentum should be building and fans are just getting regular F1 back on their Sundays, the sport will disappear for basically a full month. And then from April 30 onwards it will cram in what was the equivalent of a full season just six years ago.

Or put another way, one race in five weeks will be followed by five races in six weeks.

Now, the main issue here isn’t really with F1 deciding not to replace China at this stage, nor with the choice not to move another race into its slot to make the calendar much more balanced. The latter is too challenging at this late notice given the need to send sea freight to certain venues months in advance, and with tickets on sale for many events already. Circuits also have plenty more going on than F1 that they will have since locked in because of the previous confirmation of their grand prix date.

No, the issue is the original planning of China in the first place. When the provisional calendar was released, China was always the most vulnerable race on the schedule. And when I say vulnerable, it’s not with the benefit of hindsight I can recall the majority of those working in the sport being certain it would not take place.

So why give it a position that would cause such an imbalance to a record season that was already causing issues for some given the brutal nature of the calendar?

It’s not like F1 hasn’t had experience of such situations. To its credit, it did a brilliant job getting the 2020 season put together after Covid had completely upended everything, and similarly followed that with a smart schedule a year later that was backloaded to allow the majority of venues at least a chance of having a significant crowd.