A draft version of the 2010 Formula One calendar has been circulating the paddock area at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix. The schedule confirms what Bernie Ecclestone told a Swiss newspaper that the Canadian Grand Prix will be returning to F1. The 2010 F1 season will be 18 races long running from mid-March to the beginning of November.
- March 14 – Sakhir, Bahrain
- March 28 – Melbourne, Australia
- April 4 – Sepang, Malaysia
- April 25 – Istanbul, Turkey
- May 9 – Barcelona, Spain
- May 23 – Monte Carlo, Monaco
- June 6 – Montreal, Canada
- June 27 – Valencia, Spain (European GP)
- July 11 – Donington Park, England
- July 25 – Hockenheim, Germany
- August 1 – Hungaroring, Hungary
- August 22 – Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
- September 5 – Monza, Italy
- September 19 – Shanghai, China
- September 26 – Marina Bay, Singapore
- October 10 – Suzuka, Japan
- October 24 – Interlagos, Brazil
- November 7 – Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi
Canada returns to its traditional spot on the calendar in early June where Turkey was this year. Turkey moves back to its late April date while Bahrain moves to the start of the year. However, it looks like the Australian race was the important domino that fell when it came to moving races early in the season. Bernie Ecclestone wanted the race late in March after a time change so there would be less of a time difference between Australia and Europe. Speaking of race times, the Malaysian GP won’t be starting as late next year to avoid a run-in with the darkness like this year.
Other moves include Valencia moving to June when it’s expected to be much cooler than it is in late August. China will move from spring back to fall which means that it will likely still rain on them. Finally, the British GP should be moving to a renovated Donington Park but if it isn’t ready, the race will run at Silverstone. Speaking of potential circuit changes, Hockenheim is said to be hosting the German but they said they wouldn’t be hosting F1 anymore. The Nurburgring will only be hosting F1 if the sanctioning fees are reduced which Bernie was willing to do for Canada. Also, the South Korean GP was expected to be held at the Korean International Circuit in Yeongam County starting in 2010 but was left off the schedule. An agreement was announced in 2006 stating that 2010 would be the first year of a Korean round of the Formula One World Championship.
Remember that this is just a rumoured schedule and could be changed. A final schedule isn’t expected until sometime in November.
The Lowdown 