The
FIA has released a revised version of the 2009
Formula One calendar following a meeting of the World Motorsport Council in Paris, which no longer features the Canadian Grand Prix.
The provisional calendar released back in June by the governing body contained 19 dates, with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the new Yas Island circuit being the one addition to the 2008 schedule.
However, the Canadian race – which was due to be held on the 7 June – has now been dropped from the calendar to leave
F1 with an 18 race schedule.
It will mark the first time since 1987 that Canada hasn't featured on the F1 calendar, with the country having hosted a world championship race for all bar two years since 1967. The decision to drop Canada also means there will be no race in North America next year, with the American Grand Prix having already lost its slot on the calendar.
Aside from the removal of the Canadian race, there are other changes to the schedule previously announced, the biggest being a move for the Turkish Grand Prix from August to the date previously held by the race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve; thereby creating a summer break between the Hungarian and European Grands Prix.
The dates have also changed for both the Belgian and Italian races, with the Spa event moving from a previously announced 13 September to 30 August – going back-to-back with Valencia – while Monza moves from 6 September to fill Spa's old slot.
The revised 2009 calendar is as follows - the 2008 one is shown after for easy comparison...
2009 Formula One World Championship Calendar:
29 March
Australia Albert Park
5 April
Malaysia Sepang
19 April
Bahrain Bahrain
10 May
Spain Catalunya
24 May
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 June
Turkey Istanbul
21 June
Great Britain Silverstone
28 June
France Magny-Cours
12 July
Germany Nurburgring
26 July
Hungary Hungaroring
23 August
Europe Valencia
30 August
Belgium Spa
13 September
Italy Monza
27 September
Singapore Singapore
11 October
Japan Suzuka
18 October
China Shanghai
1 November
Brazil Interlagos
15 November
Abu Dhabi Yas Island
