Schedule features 21 races across 34 weeks next year
Wednesday 8 July 2015 11:35, UK
FOM, the commercial rights holders of F1, have confirmed that a proposed calendar for the 2016 F1 season has been leaked.
In a highly unusual statement, FOM formally announced on Wednesday night that ‘It would appear that the proposed 2016 calendar has been leaked. This calendar has not yet been approved.’
While stressing that the schedule has not yet been ratified, the statement's description of the leak as the 'proposed 2016 calendar' thus also effectively acknowledges that the leak, first published by Autosport, is an accurate reflection of their current intentions.
As widely predicted, the proposed schedule includes 21 races, staged between April 3 and November 27, with seven back-to-back double-headers.
If ratified, the calendar would limit the sport’s annual summer break to three weeks while Malaysia would be moved from its usual early-season slot to September with the Russian GP taking place in May instead.
To the relief of F1 purists, the calendar also includes the under-threat Italian GP at Monza. The German GP, dropped from this year's timetable, would return at Hockenheim, two weeks after the European GP at Baku in Azerbaijan.
Australian GP organisers announced earlier this week that their Melbourne event would be staged in the first week of April, paving the way for the latest start to a F1 season since 1988.
The proposed 2016 calendar
April 3: Australia (Albert Park)
April 10: China (Shanghai)
April 24: Bahrain (Sakhir)
May 1: Russia (Sochi)
May 15: Spain (Barcelona)
May 29: Monaco (Monte Carlo)
June 12: Canada (Montreal)
June 26: Britain (Silverstone)
July 3: Austria (Red Bull Ring)
July 17: Europe (Baku)
July 31: Germany (Hockenheim)
August 7: Hungary (Hungaroring)
August 28: Belgium (Spa)
September 4: Italy (Monza)
September 18: Singapore (Marina Bay)
September 25: Malaysia (Sepang)
October 9: Japan (Suzuka)
October 23: USA (Austin)
October 30: Mexico (Mexico City)
November 13: Brazil (Interlagos)
November 27: Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)
