Formula 1 pushing for Shanghai double-header!

Formula 1's chiefs have offered China Grand Prix organisers an opportunity to host a double-header event at Shanghai later this year.

Shanghai was the first round of the F1 world championship to be called off earlier this year after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But for commercial reasons, China is high on Liberty Media's priorities in terms of reinstating the race on the sport's 2020 calendar.

So far, a run of 8 races in Europe from early July to early September has been confirmed, with possibly additional venues joining the Continent's schedule before F1 hopefully tags on a series of fly-away events.

• F1 officially cancels Azerbaijan, Singapore and Japan!

Shanghai Sports Bureau Director Xu Bin has confirmed China's interest in keeping its race on F1's 2020 schedule while also considering a double-header event.

"International sport organisations care a lot about these world-class sport events in China and Shanghai," Xu Bin told Shanghai People's Radio.

"Despite a lot of changes of our events due to the pandemic, we have received support from international sport organisations and national associations for some of our events.

"We would be allowed to hold the events in Shanghai at a suitable time in the second half of the year, depending on the situation of the pandemic."

Xu Bin confirmed F1's offer for a two-race format but insisted that no decision had yet been reached on that specific plan.

"It's proposed by FOM," he said.

"F1 has announced they will resume the opening eight European races, without any round in Asia. The event originally scheduled...has been postponed to the second half of the year.

"During the discussion, FOM asked whether we could host two races in Shanghai. It's not been decided. It will depend on the situation of pandemic."

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