The Grand Prix of America in New Jersey does not appear on a provisional 2014 F1 calendar given to the teams and circulating in Monza today.
While the schedule won’t be definitive until the World Motor Sport Council approves it on September 27, it appears that there is little chance of the race being slotted in unless another event is dropped.
The schedule includes 21 races, including Russia, the already announced return to Austria, and a return to Mexico that has been rumoured for some weeks. The latter event is scheduled to run a week before Austin.
As expected India is absent, although the race is expected to return in 2015.
Korea, which many expected to be dropped next year, has been moved to the start of the year. It is now twinned with Shanghai. However, it is marked subject to confirmation, as indeed are Mexico and Russia, as the venues have to be formally approved.
New Jersey’s absence would appear to confirm that the promoters have not met their commercial obligations, and given that the event was already dropped from the 2013 calendar, a further reprieve appears unlikely.
“They have a contract,” Ecclestone told this writer at Spa. “If they can comply with the contract, we want to be there. If they come to me next week, and show they have complied with whatever it should be, it’s alright. They’ve got to finish the circuit, so they need to pay, and they need to comply with the conditions for us.”
2014 Draft F1 Calendar
Mar 16: Australia
Mar 23: Malaysia
Apr 6: China
Apr 13: Korea*
Apr 27: Bahrain
May 11: Spain
May 25: Monaco
Jun 8: Canada
Jun 22: Austria
Jul 6: Britain
Jul 20: Germany
Jul 27: Hungary
Aug 24: Belgium
Sep 7: Italy
Sep 21: Singapore
Oct 5: Japan
Oct 19: Russia
Oct 26: Abu Dhabi
Nov 9: Mexico*
Nov 16: USA
Nov 30: Brazil
*subject to confirmation by FIA
Adam Cooper F1 