The
FIA has confirmed that an additional race in Europe is to be added to the 2013 F1 calendar in a move which will see the title battle fought over 20 races.
The initial schedule published by the governing body back in September had featured 20 dates before the planned race in New Jersey was put back to 2014 at the earliest.
That looked set to leave 19 races on the calendar, but the
FIA has now revised the schedule for 2013 at the latest meeting of the World Motor Sport Council.
The revised schedule has seen the German Grand Prix moved forwards to 7 July – a week earlier than originally planned – in order to allow another race in European to be run on 21 July, a week before the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest.
“The date for the 2013 Grand Prix of Germany has been moved to 7 July,” the governing body said, “and 21 July has been reserved for another F1 European event, subject to the approval of the relevant ASNs.”
Where that race will be held remains to be seen, although Turkey is the hot favourite to take the vacant spot on the calendar.
Earlier this week, businessman Vural Ak said he was
talking to Bernie Ecclestone about a return for the race having taken over the lease of the Istanbul Park circuit, with a decision expected from the commercial rights holder 'next week'.
2013 F1 calendar:March 17
AustraliaMarch 24
MalaysiaApril 14
ChinaApril 21
BahrainMay 12
SpainMay 26
MonacoJune 9
CanadaJune 30
BritainJuly 7
Germany July 21
TBC – Additional European raceJuly 28
HungaryAugust 25
BelgiumSeptember 8
ItalySeptember 22
Singapore October 6
KoreaOctober 13
JapanOctober 27
IndiaNovember 3
Abu DhabiNovember 17
United States (Austin)
November 24
Brazil