The International Automobile Federation (FIA) announced the approved calendar on Monday.
Major changes include the pushing back of the Australian race from first place – which it has held since 1996, except for 2006 due a clash with the Commonwealth Games – to third place. Bahrain’s Sakhir circuit will instead host the first race on March 14.
South Korea makes its entrance on October 17. Canada has been pencilled in for June 13 but Turkey stands ready to move into that date should ongoing contract negotiations between Formula One and the Montreal circuit bear no fruit. There will be day-night races at Australia, Abu Dhabi and Malaysia, and a night race again in Singapore. Britain is pencilled in for July 11, with no circuit specified – Donington Park should host the race but Bernie Ecclestone has said Silverstone will be the venue if Donington’s preparations are not complete in time.
The full calendar is:
March 14 - Bahrain
March 28 - Australia
April 4 - Malaysia
April 18 - China
May 9 - Spain
May 23 - Monaco
May 30 - Turkey
June 13 - Canada*
June 27 - Europe (Valencia)
July 11 - Britain
July 25 - Germany
Aug 1 - Hungary
Aug 29 - Belgium
Sept 12 - Italy
Sept 26 - Singapore
Oct 3 - Japan
Oct 17 - South Korea
Oct 31 - Abu Dhabi
Nov 14 - Brazil
