The future of the Chinese Grand Prix is set to be secured in the coming weeks after a new deal was agreed in principle.

The race had been marked as provisional when the 2018 calendar was released earlier this summer.

However, Formula 1 Commercial Director Sean Bratches has dismissed any concerns, revealing that a long-term contract will be signed in a matter of weeks.

"We’ve been working hard with Juss Event, the promoter, and we’ve got an agreement in principle," he said. 

"My suspicion is that it will be executed by the end of next month, fully executed.

"Next year the schedule will be released and there will be nothing provisional about Shanghai because we will have a long-term deal."

The event, which made its debut in 2004, is scheduled for April 8th, a fortnight after the season-opener in Melbourne.

The Singapore Grand Prix was also in doubt, but it is fully expected to remain on the calendar.