The
FIA,
Formula One's governing body, has revealed the provisional calendar for the 2009 season featuring 19 races – one more than in 2008.
As usual, the season will start in Australia in March, before the fly-away events in Malaysia and Bahrain. The European campaign will start in Spain before the Monaco race, with the Turkish Grand Prix – which did split the two this season – moving back from May to its previous August fixture, following poor attendances as a result of the date change in 2008.
The Canadian Grand Prix retains its slot at the start of June, with the British Grand Prix moving from July to June ahead of the French race, the two meetings running back-to-back.
The German and Hungarian races will then follow before the trip to Turkey and the European race in Valencia, before the Italian and Belgian Grands Prix conclude the European part of the campaign.
Following the night race in Singapore, Japan, China, Brazil and the new Abu Dhabi GP will complete the calendar, with the latter being the only new addition to the schedule and – with its 15 November date – marking the latest end to an
F1 campaign in 22 years.
One notable absentee from the schedule is the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis, though circuit promoters are hopeful of a return in the near future [see separate story –
click here].
The provisional 2009 calendar is as follows - the 2008 one is shown after for easy comparison...
2009 Formula One World Championship Calendar:
29 March
Australia
5 April
Malaysia
19 April
Bahrain
10 May
Spain
24 May
Monaco
7 June
Canada
21 June
Great Britain
28 June
France
12 July
Germany
26 July
Hungary
9 August
Turkey
23 August
Europe (Valencia)
6 September
Italy
13 September
Belgium
27 September
Singapore
11 October
Japan
18 October
China
1 November
Brazil
15 November
Abu Dhabi
