FIA revises 2013 F1 calendar

The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council has revised the 2013 F1 calendar in reaction to the Grand Prix of New Jersey postponement. That race was originally scheduled for 16 June, the week after the Canadian Grand Prix.

Instead, F1 teams will get an extra week to prepare for the British Grand Prix (30 June). The German Grand Prix has been brought forward a week, to 7 July, and will form a back-to-back pairing with Britain.

This has enabled the FIA to open up a space on 21 July which can be used for an extra European-based race, possibly Turkey. Assuming this goes ahead it will maintain F1’s current desire for a 20-race season.

The WMSC also made some changes to F1’s Sporting and Technical Regulations which will affect the 2013 and 2014 seasons. These can be read after the break, along with an update 2013 F1 calendar.

[Pic: Lotus F1 Team/LAT Photographic]

Date	Country	Grand Prix
March 17	AUS	Grand Prix of Australia
March 24	MYS	Grand Prix of Malaysia
April 14	CHN	Grand Prix of China
April 21	BHR	Grand Prix of Bahrain
May 12	ESP	Grand Prix of Spain (Barcelona)
May 26	MCO	Grand Prix of Monaco
June 9	CAN	Grand Prix of Canada
June 30	GBR	Grand Prix of Great Britain
July 7	DEU	Grand Prix of Germany
Jul 21	EUR	To be confirmed
July 28	HUN	Grand Prix of Hungary
August 25	BEL	Grand Prix of Belgium
September 8	ITA	Grand Prix of Italy
September 22	SGP	Grand Prix of Singapore
October 6	KOR	Grand Prix of Korea
October 13	JPN	Grand Prix of Japan
October 27	IND	Grand Prix of India
November 3	UAE	Grand Prix of AbuDhabi
November 17	USA	Grand Prix of USA (Austin)
November 24	BRA	Grand Prix of Brazil
		Correct as at 7.12.12

 

The WMSC yesterday agreed to move the date of next year’s German Grand Prix in order to reserve a slot for an additional European race.

Thu 06.12.12, 7:07AM

The World Motor Sport Council yesterday agreed to move the date of next year’s German Grand Prix in order to reserve a slot for an additional European race.

The change follows the recent withdrawal of the Grand Prix of America from the proposed 2013 FIA Formula One calendar.

The German Grand Prix had been scheduled for 14 July next year, but will now move back a week to pair with the British Grand Prix of 30 June. A council statement read: “The date for the 2013 Grand Prix of Germany has been moved to 7 July, and 21 July has been reserved for another F1 European event, subject to the approval of the relevant ASNs.”

In other Formula One news, the council ratified a number of changes to the 2013 and 2014 Sporting and Technical regulations of the series.

Chief among the changes is that use of the Drag Reduction System designed to improve overtaking will no longer be allowed in practice sessions, except in the zone(s) designated for its use during a race. Until now drivers have been able to use the system – which provides greater speed via a flap in the rear wing – at any point on a lap in sessions prior to the race.

With regard to the 2014 regulations – when F1 will move to a 1.6 litre, V6, hybrid engine formula – the WMSC said a new draft of the technical regulations was discussed and agreed by the F1 Technical Working Group and Powertrain Working Group.

The new rules include changes to the power unit regulations, with the aim of limiting technology in some areas in order to reduce development costs, and a postponement of the requirement for cars to be driven exclusively under electric power in the pit lane until 2017.