The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council voted on the new schedule, which will finish in Brazil on November 27 as originally planned. The Indian Grand Prix, which had been shifted to a season-ending December 11 to accommodate the Bahrain race, will keep its original October 30 slot.
Bahrain’s season-opening race was postponed due to civil unrest and although Bahrain was briefly reinstated to the calendar, an outcry from the competing teams forced organisers to scrap plans to stage the race this year. Although logistical concerns were cited as the reason for the opposition, doubts about the country’s security situation remain.
“Following a fax vote of the FIA World Motor Sport Council and, by unanimous decision, the FIA Formula One World Championship calendar has been ratified as originally proposed,” read a statement from the FIA.
FIA president Jean Todt last week insisted in a letter to the Formula One Teams Association that it was F1 rights-holder Bernie Ecclestone’s responsibility to carry out due diligence on all race hosts.
