FIA announce 20-race calendar for F1 2017

After a meeting of the FIA world motorsport council today, the 2017 Formula One championship calendar has been finalised.

It will feature 20 races right through from the season opener in Australia which will take place in late March to Abu Dhabi at the end of November.

Sao Paulo has a notable question mark over the date currently set due to the financial constraints they have going on.

The loss of the German Grand Prix is also confirmed as neither Nurburgring or Hockenheim can maintain the race financially, while the Azerbaijan Grand Prix not only drops the European Grand Prix title but also will no longer clash with the Le Mans 24 hour race.

China swaps places with Bahrain and moves to the second round of the championship and is also back to back with Australia, Malaysia has also swapped places with Singapore.

The rebirth of the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola had been touted as a possible replacement for Germany, though that now doesn’t seem the case, while the Italian round at Monza remains and will so for another three years.

Pre-season testing: Barcelona

Test 1: February 27 – March 1

Test 2: March 7-10

Race Calendar.

March 26: Austalia, Melbourne

April 9: China, Shanghai

April 16: Bahrain, Sakhir

April 30: Russia, Sochi

May 14: Spain, Catalunya

May 28: Monaco, Monte Carlo

June 11: Canada, Montreal

June 25: Azerbaijan, Baku