The FIA has released the provisional calendar for the 2009 Formula One racing season, a series that is set to include 19 races spanning five continents.
Australia will still open the season, despite fears earlier this year that time differences could spell the end of the race, and it will boast a new harbour-side street circuit. The French Grand Prix is still very much a part of the calendar as announced last week at Magny-Cours.
The ‘big six’ of Monaco, Belgium, France, Italy, Britain and Germany are all in place – but the US has yet to make it back onto the calendar.
June and September are particularly busy months with three races apiece and the Silverstone event has been moved back approximately a month (handily right into the annual British rainy season that always introduces Wimbledon).
Turkey is back to its traditional August spot and a new race will take place in Abu Dhabi, the last in the season, shifting Interlagos back into the penultimate spot. The Chinese and Singaporean events keep their places on the calendar.
Next year’s F1 races:
- Australia – March 29
- Malaysia – April 5
- Bahrain – April 19
- Spain – May 10
- Monaco – May 24
- Canada – June 7
- Great Britain – June 21
- France – June 28
- Germany – July 12
- Hungary – July 26
- Turkey – August 9
- Europe (Valencia) – August 28
- Italy – September 6
- Belgium – September 13
- Singapore – September 27
- Japan – October 11
- China – October 18
- Brazil – November 1
- Abu Dhabi – November 15