[h=2]Provisional 2018 F1 calendar[/h] Monday, 19 June 2017


By Chris Medland / Image by Sam Bloxham/LAT

The first version of the 2018 Formula 1 calendar has been agreed following a meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Geneva, with changes for Azerbaijan and Sochi.
Following the early end of the Malaysian Grand Prix contract but the addition of races in France and Germany, a 21-race calendar has been approved for next season, which will start with the Australian Grand Prix on March 25. The first major change is an earlier slot for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix (pictured), taking over Russia's slot in the calendar as the fourth race of the year, being held in late April.
The move is due to Russia being given a much later position on the calendar, as was the case for the first race in Sochi in 2014. In 2018 the Russian Grand Prix is scheduled to be held on Sept. 30 as the first part of a double-header with the Japanese Grand Prix.


The Singapore Grand Prix is provisionally set to take place on Sept. 16 – two weeks before Russia – but is one of two races marked as "subject to commercial rights holder confirmation" along with the Chinese Grand Prix. The return of the French Grand Prix – to be held at Paul Ricard – also sees a triple-header of European races planned. The French race would be the first of the run on June 24, with the Austrian Grand Prix at Spielberg to take place on July 1 and then the British Grand Prix at Silverstone a week later on July 8.
Hockenheim is also set to return as the first part of a double-header with the Hungarian Grand Prix before the mid-season break.
As is the case this year, the season is scheduled to conclude with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Nov. 25.
The full calendar is as follows:
March 25, Melbourne, Australia
April 8, Shanghai, China*
April 15, Sakhir, Bahrain
April 29, Baku, Azerbaijan
May 13, Barcelona, Spain
May 27, Monaco
June 10, Montreal, Canada
June 24, Le Castellet, France
July 1, Spielberg, Austria
July 8, Silverstone, Great Britain
July 22, Hockenheim, Germany
July 29, Budapest, Hungary
August 26, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
September 2, Monza, Italy
September 16, Singapore*
September 30, Sochi, Russia
October 7, Suzuka, Japan
October 21, COTA, Austin, Texas
October 28, Mexico City, Mexico
November 11, Sao Paulo, Brazil
November 25, Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi
* subject to commercial rights holder confirmation