New Jersey, Korea and Mexico all appear as provisional on the 22-race 2014 F1 calendar approved by the World Motor Sport Council today.
As previously reported, New Jersey appears in the middle of an unprecedented triple header with Monaco and Montreal, which the teams regard as totally impractical.
Intriguingly like Mexico it is listed as being subject to circuit approval, whereas the long established Korean GP is merely provisional, suggesting that there are commercial reasons for any doubts.
Relative to earlier versions, Malaysia has gone back a week to join Bahrain, which has been moved forward to become the third race. Later in the year Japan and Russia have been moved and form an unusual double header. There’s a swap between Mexico and Austin, which form a double header.
It’s worth noting that the calendar is still subject to revision given that the FIA’s own rules state that “the final list of events is published by the FIA before January 1 each year,” and furthermore that a maximum of 20 events is permissible. A definitive schedule is likely to emerge from the next FIA gathering in Paris in December.
Mar 16: Australia
Mar 3o: Malaysia
Apr 6: Bahrain
Apr 20: China
Apr 27: Korea (provisional)
May 11: Spain
May 25: Monaco
Jun 1: New Jersey (provisional)
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: Russia
Oct 12: Japan
Oct 26: Abu Dhabi
Nov 9: USA (Austin)
Nov 16: Mexico (provisional)
Nov 30: Brazil
Wow the season gets longer every year, I can remember when 16-17 races was considered excessive by the teams. Bernie keeps finding new nations to pay both his fee and the huge cost of infrastructure.
France is all but a memory these days and Turkey (great circuit!) is gone, San Marino and Portugal are no more. The “European” GP which saw a second race for nations like Germany and Spain, when national interest was through the roof, is not an economic viability these days. Austria is back and Belgium was looking a little shaky not that long ago.
Years without a US race saw the eventual introduction of Indianapolis, which ultimately fell off. America seemed lost to F1 until Austin appeared, and if you can believe the New Jersey will ever eventuate, America will have two races in a market that was considered dead if Indy could not make a go of it.
Say what you will of Bernie over the years, I certainly have……..he just keeps growing the international footprint of F1. Who is his next target?