Ecclestone shifts 2016 season opener back to March

  • Published on 28 Sep 2015 13:37
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Bernie Ecclestone has re-shaped F1's 2016 calendar, it emerged on Monday. It was already known that, with the summer break controversially shrunk for next year as Azerbaijan joins the unprecedented 21-race schedule, talks to tweak the provisional calendar were taking place behind closed doors.

On the website of the Australian grand prix, tickets for the 2016 season opener on 3 April are already being sold. But Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that Melbourne has now been shifted from its later-than-usual April date back to 20 March. It will reportedly also involve winter testing taking place two weeks earlier than planned.

Scrapping the plans for the unusually-condensed 2016 calendar, however, means Ecclestone can avoid upsetting teams by shortening the August break, installing an arduous 'triple header' of races, or extending the championship into December.

So it means Bahrain now has Melbourne's original April 3 race date for next year, with Abu Dhabi to conclude the season almost eight months later in Abu Dhabi. The amended calendar must now be ratified by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council, which is set to meet in Paris on Wednesday. (GMM)

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Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
31 - Apr 2
Australia
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
5 - May 7
United States of America
19 - May 21
Italy
26 - May 28
Monaco
2 - Jun 4
Spain
16 - Jun 18
Canada
30 - Jul 2
Austria
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
1 - Sep 3
Italy
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
22 - Sep 24
Japan
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
3 - Mar 5
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
16 - Jun 18
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
22 - Sep 24
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule
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