F1 makes calendar decision after Russian GP cancellation

Formula 1 have confirmed that there will be no replacement event for the Russian Grand Prix, leaving 2022 as a 22-race season.

The Russian event was cancelled indefinitely back in March following the country's military invasion of nearby Ukraine. As a result, a space was left in the schedule for its original September slot.

A number of potential hosts showed a strong interest in holding a replacement race, with Qatar and Singapore thought to be frontrunners.

However, Formula 1 has instead opted against replacing the event.

F1 not short of offers to replace Russia

F1 received plenty of interest from venues keen to stage a replacement race on the weekend of 23-25 September following the termination of Russia's contract.

The race was originally set to form part of a triple-header of Grands Prix with Singapore and Japan.

As reported by RacingNews365.com, Singapore was amongst the venues interested in stepping in, with plans to hold back-to-back races at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

Qatar was also on F1's radar, although there were concerns over the country's extreme September heat, as temperatures can reach close to 40 degrees Celsius.

Why calendar will be left at 22 races

Despite the interest, F1 has reached the conclusion that adding a 23rd race to the 2022 calendar would not be worthwhile to teams and the wider sport, bearing in mind how this would add to the growing cost of freight, travel and hotels, among other expenditures.

Offers from interested circuits in Europe also proved to be a non-starter due to EU freight rules, it is understood.

Those rules would have left teams forced to return from Singapore to their European bases, unpack their cargo and then repack for travel to a European circuit, posing a logistical nightmare for all.