Formula One 2016
FIA okays provisional 21-race calendar
Agencies
Mexico City
F
ormula One's governing body approved a provisional 21-race calendar for 2016 on Friday that includes an inaugural race in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The German Grand Prix is also set to return to the calendar on July 31 after that race was dropped this year due to financial problems, although a 2016 venue has not been specified.
The FIA approved the provisional schedule at a meeting in Mexico City, with the opening Australian GP set for April 3, followed by China a week later.
The Malaysian GP, which has long been an early-season event, has been pushed back to September to be held a week after the race in neighboring Singapore.
Russia moves forward to be the first European event of the season, on May 1, while the Baku race is scheduled for July 17.
The United States GP in Austin, Texas, is scheduled for October 23, with the season ending in Abu Dhabi on November 27.
This year's calendar has 19 races, and the expansion to 21 would be a record number of races in a season.
APPROVED 2016 CALENDAR:
April 3 - Australia
April 10 - China
April 24 - Bahrain
May 1 - Russia
May 15 - Spain
May 29 - Monaco
June 12 - Canada
June 26 - Britain
July 3 - Austria
July 17 - Europe (Baku)
July 31 - Germany
August 7 - Hungary
August 28 - Belgium
September 4 - Italy
September 18 - Singapore
September 25 - Malaysia
October 9 - Japan
October 23 - USA (Austin)
October 30 - Mexico
November 13 - Brazil
November 27 - Abu Dhabi
