2018 F1 calendar: 21 races, France, Germany confirmed
Historic races brought back.
Grand prix races in France and Germany have been confirmed on the 21-race Formula 1 calendar for 2018.
The German GP, which has struggled with attendances and track fees, was scrapped this year but will return at Hockenheim on July 22.
The French GP, meanwhile, returns after a 10-year absence and will be hosted at the iconic Paul Ricard circuit, also known as Le Castellet, in southern France.
More races
Paul Ricard last hosted the French GP in 1990. The race was then organised at Magny-Cours from 1991 to 2008 but was then dropped from the calendar in 2008 because of financial issues.
Both races were expected to be on the calendar for 2018 but were formally approved during a meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council on Monday in Geneva.
F1 chairman Chase Carey said: “We wanted to finalise next season's calendar early, so that all our stakeholders would have more time to prepare. Thanks in part through working closely with the FIA.”
Since replacing Bernie Ecclestone, Carey has been keen to reunite F1 with some of its historical past, despite the financial difficulties experienced by iconic races such as the German GP and the Italian GP in Monza.
“France was one of the seven races that made up the first ever world championship in 1950 and it now returns after a decade,” Carey said.
“The number of races has increased by one compared to the current season. We received numerous requests from those wishing to host a Formula One grand prix, but we wanted the existing promoters to feel that we are putting all our efforts into ensuring that each race is a special event.”
As usual, the next season will begin in Australia on March 25 in Melbourne, and will end on November 25 at the Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi.
The need to maintain a largely unchanged winter and summer break means the schedule is more intensive than 2017, particularly during the middle part of the season, with races in Europe taking place over a six-week period. Races will also move around.
This weekend's Azerbaijan GP has been moved forward to April 29, making it the fourth race of the season. - Wheels24
The German GP, which has struggled with attendances and track fees, was scrapped this year but will return at Hockenheim on July 22.
The French GP, meanwhile, returns after a 10-year absence and will be hosted at the iconic Paul Ricard circuit, also known as Le Castellet, in southern France.
More races
Paul Ricard last hosted the French GP in 1990. The race was then organised at Magny-Cours from 1991 to 2008 but was then dropped from the calendar in 2008 because of financial issues.
Both races were expected to be on the calendar for 2018 but were formally approved during a meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council on Monday in Geneva.
F1 chairman Chase Carey said: “We wanted to finalise next season's calendar early, so that all our stakeholders would have more time to prepare. Thanks in part through working closely with the FIA.”
Since replacing Bernie Ecclestone, Carey has been keen to reunite F1 with some of its historical past, despite the financial difficulties experienced by iconic races such as the German GP and the Italian GP in Monza.
“France was one of the seven races that made up the first ever world championship in 1950 and it now returns after a decade,” Carey said.
“The number of races has increased by one compared to the current season. We received numerous requests from those wishing to host a Formula One grand prix, but we wanted the existing promoters to feel that we are putting all our efforts into ensuring that each race is a special event.”
As usual, the next season will begin in Australia on March 25 in Melbourne, and will end on November 25 at the Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi.
The need to maintain a largely unchanged winter and summer break means the schedule is more intensive than 2017, particularly during the middle part of the season, with races in Europe taking place over a six-week period. Races will also move around.
This weekend's Azerbaijan GP has been moved forward to April 29, making it the fourth race of the season. - Wheels24
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