Tag: F1 calendar

Categories
Formula 1

FIA confirms 2014 F1 calendar (for now)

Red Bull Racing visits New York City

Following the draft 2014 F1 calendar earlier this month the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council has signed off on next year’s schedule. And you’ll never guess what, the New Jersey race is on the list (1 June)!

So, it’s pretty safe to expect there will be changes to this calendar before next season rolls around. The Grand Prix of America (New Jersey) is just one of three races listed as “provisional” along with Korea (27 April) and Mexico (16 November).

Melbourne’s status as the debut race of the year (16 March) has been confirmed and the season will end in Brazil (30 November). Although, quite a few of the dates and races have been moved around since the draft calendar.

Whatever happens to the three events in question, it looks like we’ll have two new grands prix in 2014 with the Austrian (22 June) and Russian (5 October) races now signed off.

If we take the calendar at face value there will be a staggering 22 races. Yep, there’ll be changes alright! For what it’s worth you can see the revised calendar in full after the break.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Continue reading “FIA confirms 2014 F1 calendar (for now)”
Categories
Formula 1

Here’s your first look at the 2014 F1 calendar

2013 Australian Grand Prix

The Australian Grand Prix on March 16 next year is expected to be the start date for the 2014 Formula 1 season according to a draft calendar revealed yesterday.

It’s shaping as being the biggest F1 season ever with 21 races including the addition of grands prix in Austria, Mexico and Russia. Notably, there’s no slot for the New Jersey Grand Prix.

We won’t be at all surprised if this calendar changes, either. There’s previously been talk of capping the season at 20 races and also concerns over the viability of the Russian event.

Whatever happens with the 2014 calendar, there’s already pressure on the 2015 schedule with the promised return of the Indian Grand Prix.

2014 F1 calendar (draft)

RoundDateGrand Prix
1March 16AUSTRALIA (Melbourne)
2March 23MALAYSIA (Sepang)
3April 6CHINA (Shanghai)
4April 13KOREA* (Korea International Circuit)
5April 27BAHRAIN (Sakhir)
6May 11SPAIN (Barcelona)
7May 25MONACO (Monaco)
8June 8CANADA (Montreal)
9June 22AUSTRIA (Red Bull Ring)
10July 6BRITAIN (Silverstone)
11July 20GERMANY (Hockenheim)
12July 27HUNGARY (Budapest)
13August 24BELGIUM (Spa)
14September 7ITALY (Monza)
15September 21SINGAPORE (Marina Bay)
16October 5JAPAN (Suzuka)
17October 19RUSSIA* (Sochi)
18October 26ABU DHABI (Yas Marina)
19November 9MEXICO* (Mexico City)
20November 16USA (Austin)
21November 30BRAZIL (Interlagos)
As at September 7, 2013.*subject to confirmation of track/contract

[Source: Autosport | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Categories
Formula 1

Indian GP to be dropped from 2014 F1 calendar

2012 Indian Grand Prix

The Indian Grand Prix will not feature in the 2014 F1 calendar but is expected to return in 2015. According to Bernie Ecclestone the change will come so the race can switch from its October date to March.

The 2013 Indian Grand Prix will take place as scheduled on 27 October.

“The circuit in India is fantastic,” Ecclestone told the Times of India. “We are really disappointed that we can’t have the Grand Prix in India in 2014. But we have now agreed to return to India in March 2015.”

Jaypee boss Sameer Gaur said they would prefer a date later in the year, but will accommodate Eccelstone’s request.

“The October-November period suits us better both weather-wise as well as it being the festive season in India,” Gaur said. “But if Formula One Management wants us to hold our race in March, 2015, we don’t have any problem with that.”

In 2014 two new races are expected to be added to the calendar, in Russia and Austria. The highly anticipated addition of the New Jersey Grand Prix, with the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop, has been pencilled in for next year, but fresh doubts have emerged suggesting it won’t go ahead.

Bernie Ecclestone has said the F1 calendar will not exceed 20 races, so for next year at least, the loss of the Indian race will make scheduling a bit easier.

[Source: ABC Grandstand | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Categories
Formula 1

2014 F1 season to be capped at 20 races

2013 German Grand Prix

Following word the Austrian Grand Prix is expected to return to F1 Bernie Ecclestone has said there will be no more than 20 races in 2014.

The Russian Grand Prix will debut next year and if the New Jersey Grand Prix can get its act together we’re facing the prospect of a 21 race calendar.

“We will have 20 races, not more,” Ecclestone told Austrian paper Kleine Zeitung.

So, something has to give and it’s likely to be New Jersey. Indeed, Niki Lauda, Mercedes AMG F1 team non-executive chairman, has said, “As far as I know, it’s already gone from the calendar.”

It’s understood Red Bull has signed a seven year agreement to host Formula 1 races at its Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, starting from next year. It turns out there are still some government-related hurdles to clear, relating to noise limits and spectator numbers.

“I don’t know everything else at the moment. Ask me again in the summer,” added Ecclestone. “Red Bull is very good for the sport, very good for Formula One. Everything is so professional at Red Bull, quality-wise at a high level. I think Red Bull will organise a very good grand prix.”

[Source: Planet F1 & crash.net | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Categories
Formula 1

Austrian Grand Prix back on F1 calendar in 2014

2013 Canadian Grand Prix

The Austrian Grand Prix is set to return to the F1 program next year at the Red Bull Ring. Under its former name, the A1 Ring last hosted F1 races between 1997–2003.

This is all good news for European F1 fans who’ve become accustomed to losing races to frontier countries. But will it come at the expense of the troubled New Jersey GP?

The New York race was originally scheduled to debut on 16 June this year, but was postponed until 2014 due to construction delays. That was the official word anyway, although financial issues have also hampered the race’s progress.

Clearly the financial might of Red Bull will ensure no such dramas befall the Austrian race which has been penciled in for 6 July next year.

It’s likely to be a packed schedule in the middle of next year. The FIA has confirmed the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be held on the weekend of 14–15 June and has mandated that no F1 race can clash with the event. That leaves the British, Austrian, German and Hungarian Grands Prix to fit in after Le Mans and before the end of July.

Even if the New Jersey GP falls through, when you factor in the debut of the Russian Grand Prix we could still be looking at a 21 race bonanza in 2014.

[Source: James Allan on F1 | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]