Making way for an August break, the World Motor Sports Council has recently announced the revised provisional calendar for Formula 1. The F1 calendar has been seen to be forwarded to 20th March, 2016. After thoroughly reviewing the plan in a meeting in Paris, the FIA’s World Motor Sports Council has approved a total of 21 races. Since the year 1988, the traditional start to Formula 1 has been 3rd April, and this year this date goes on to become the second race of the season with Bahrain being the host. Apart from this, another change to be witnessed in this year’s schedule is the date swap between China and Bahrain, with the race in Shanghai to be held on 17th April.
A huge setback to the F1 schedule of this year is that it clashes with Le Mans. The back-to-back season is scheduled on 12th June in Canada and then on 19th June in Azerbaijan. However, the start time of European Grand Prix at Baku would be managed so as to avoid any clash with the conclusion of Le Mans 24 hours. The changes in the F1 calendar has brought back the traditional July date of the British Grand Prix to be held on 10th of July. The British Grand Prix is followed by the Hungarian Grand Prix at Budapest which is just a week before the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim on 31st July. This has led to the traditional month long summer break in August which has come as a relief to the teams.
The break is then followed by the Belgian Grand Prix to be held at Spa-Francorchamps on the 28th of August. Instead of the regular back to back races of Singapore and Malaysian Grand Prix at Marine Bay and Sepang respectively, this year Malaysian Grand Prix has been paired with Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka on the 9th of October. Followed by the United States Grand Prix on 23rd October, it is no longer paired with Mexican Grand Prix which is instead immediately followed by the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos on 13th November. The season finally concludes with the usual tradition of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina on 27th of November.
The Formula 1 revised calendar for the year 2016is as follows:
1. Australian Grand Prix (Melbourne): 20 March
2. Bahrain Grand Prix (Sakhir): 3 April
3. Chinese Grand Prix (Shanghai): 17 April
4. Russian Grand Prix (Sochi): 1 May
5. Spanish Grand Prix (Barcelona): 15 May
6. Monaco Grand Prix (Monte Carlo): 29 May
7. Canadian Grand Prix (Montreal): 12 June
8. European Grand Prix (Baku): 19 June
9. Austrian Grand Prix (Spielberg): 3 July
10. British Grand Prix (Silverstone): 10 July
11. Hungarian Grand Prix (Budapest): 24 July
12. German Grand Prix (Hockenheim): 31 July
13. Belgian Grand Prix (Spa-Francorchamps): 28 August
14. Italian Grand Prix (Monza): 4 September
15. Singapore Grand Prix (Marina Bay): 18 September
16. Malaysian Grand Prix (Sepang): 2 October
17. Japanese Grand Prix (Suzuka): 9 October
18. United States Grand Prix (Austin): 23 October
19. Mexican Grand Prix (Mexico City): 6 November
20. Brazilian Grand Prix (Interlagos): 13 November
21. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Yas Marina): 27 November