Revisions to the 2012 Formula One calendar will see the Australian Grand Prix host the opening race next year Autosport reports.
The expected changes follow news that Bernie has got his red pen out and started to fiddle with the dates due to lingering safety concerns in Bahrain. It’s now thought the Bahrain Grand Prix will be pushed back to November to go back-to-back with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Such a move would allow Melbourne to return to its debut role. It’s also possible the Australian GP will be held on 11 March, one week earlier than first advised, and the Malaysian Grand Prix will move to 18 March to allow consecutive fly-away races to open the season.
Other changes mentioned include Bernie’s red pen putting a line right through the Turkish Grand Prix, removing it from the 2012 calendar altogether. A three week gap prior to the Spanish Grand Prix could usher in a return for in-season testing as well.
Concerns over Texas’ hot temperatures in June are understood to see the United States Grand Prix move to the second last race of the year, where it will run back-to-back with the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Eccelstone’s proposed changes would need to be ratified by the World Motor Sport Council later this year. Assuming no major gripes from the teams over logistics a rubber stamp should be a formality.
[Source: Autosport | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]
3 replies on “F1 calendar reshuffle to put Australia first in 2012”
i WISH THEY WOULD MAKE THERE MIND UP, WE HAVE ALREADY BOOKED FLIGHTS FROM AUSTRAILIA TO KL FOR WHAT WAS THE 1ST OF APRIL AND NOW ITS CHANGED TO 25TH MARCH. I KNOW ALOT OF PEOPLE DONE THIS, IT WILL COST US DEAR.
April fool!
[…] first F1 race of 2012 on 18 March, following confirmation of next year’s calendar by the FIA. As expected the Turkish Grand Prix has been scrapped and there will be a total of six back-to-back races. The […]