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Formula 1

2009 Formula 1 calendar – Canada cruelly cut

2009 Formula 1 calendar

The FIA have confirmed their calendar for the 2009 season, with a few notable revisions from the provisional list revealed in June. The biggest shock is the loss of the Canadian Grand Prix. Not only was the news unexpected, the organisers themselves were not informed prior to the FIA’s announcement and only found out their fate through regular media channels. Montreal has hosted a Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve every year since 1987. In 2006 Canadian GP organisers announced they had secured the race’s future until 2011. Expect to hear a bit more about this one.

Other changes see the swapping of dates for the Belgian and Italian Grands Prix. The Turkish GP moves to 7 June, filling the gap left by Canada’s demise. There is now a four week summer break between rounds 10 and 11.

Source: Formula1.com and F1-Live

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Formula 1

Mark Webber’s Singapore Grand Prix preview



There’s quite a few preview clips for this weekend’s Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix out there in cyberspace. Here is Red Bull Racing‘s effort with Mark Webber talking us through a lap.

The first F1 race to be held under lights—it should be a belter!

Categories
Formula 1

Melbourne to host Formula One Grand Prix until 2015

Melbourne Formula One Grand Prix

Victorian Premier, John Brumby and his Events team have struck a deal that will see Melbourne continue hosting a Formula One Grand Prix until 2015. Controversy over a full night time race appears to have been shelved, for now, with plans for the Melbourne race to start at 5pm for the next seven years. “It’s a five o’clock start. We’ve said that we would not support a night race, and we’ve held firm in that position,” Brumby said.

President of Formula One Management, Mr Bernie Ecclestone, said he was delighted the Grand Prix was continuing in Melbourne. “The Australian Grand Prix has always been a great show, with some of the biggest crowds in Formula One,” he said.

The crucial factor for Melbourne, or any Australian Grand Prix, has always been the early morning start for European television audiences, and it is understood negotiations for this new deal were intensive. Ecclestone commented, “I have wanted changes to the local race time so that we can increase the television audience in Europe and Asia. I’m satisfied that the decision to move to later start time for 2009 races is a win for television audiences in Europe and Asia, a win for Melbourne and a win for Formula One as a whole.”