The FIA released a revised provisional 2016 race calendar after it was ratified at the World Motorsport Council today.
As reported earlier, the season will now start in March with the Australian Grand Prix hosting the first round of the F1 World Championshiop from 17-20 March 2016. The Australian GP was initially scheduled for an April start.
The revised calendar still consists of 21 races with a bit of shuffling around and the return of a three week summer break.. China and Bahrain have swapped with the latter scheduled on 3 April. The German Grand Prix will make a return after a year off.
The Malaysian Grand Prix has been pushed by a week to make it back to back with Japan. There are now 6 back-to-back race weekends on the revised calendar. These are: Canada-Azerbaijan, Austria-Britain, Hungary-Germany, Belgium-Italy, Maylaysia-Japan and Mexico-Brazil.
The race in Azerbaijan clashes with the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The FIA say that the race start will be scheduled to avoid the clash with the conclusion of Le Mans.
The final race will still take place in Abu Dhabi on 27 Novemeber 2016.
The 2016 revised provisional calendar
Round | Date | Circuit | City |
1 | 20 March | Melbourne | Australia |
2 | 3 April | Bahrain | Bahrain |
3 | 17 April | Shanghai | China |
4 | 1 May | Sochi | Russia |
5 | 15 May | Barcelona | Spain |
6 | 29 May | Monte Carlo | Monaco |
7 | 12 June | Montreal | Canada |
8 | 19 June | Baku | Azerbaijan* |
9 | 3 July | Spielberg | Austria |
10 | 10 July | Silverstone | United Kingdom |
11 | 24 July | Budapest | Hungary |
12 | 31 July | Hockenheim | Germany |
13 | 28 August | Spa-Francorchamps | Belgium |
14 | 4 September | Monza | Italy |
15 | 18 September | Singapore | Singapore |
16 | 2 October | Sepang | Malaysia |
17 | 9 October | Suzuka | Japan |
18 | 23 October | Austin | USA |
19 | 6 November | Mexico City | Mexico |
20 | 13 November | Sao Paolo | Brazil |
21 | 27 November | Abu Dhabi | United Arab Emirates |