8:39 – Formula 1 commercial chief Sean Bratches is “incredibly optimistic” that China will remain on the calendar next season, though says it could swap places with Bahrain.
China was one of two Grands Prix, along with Singapore, to be listed as provisional on the 2018 calendar, subject to confirmation of a new contract.
It is set to host the second round of the season on April 8, with Bahrain’s Sakhir circuit given the third round a week later, in a back-to-back sequence.
However, Shanghai’s F1 race currently coincides with the Qingming national holiday, also known as Tomb Sweeping-Day, when families pay respects to ancestors.