2009 F1 calendar shortened

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The FIA has published an updated 2009 F1 calendar.

The Chinese Grand Prix is now the third round instead of the 15th, and will be held in April. This means F1 will have visited the circuit twice within seven months, and next year’s Grand Prix may see different climactic conditions to what we have been used to.

At the end of the calendar the final race of the season, at the new Yas Island Marina circuit for the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, has been brought forward by two weeks, reducing the total duration of the season by the same amount. The Brazilian round has been moved forward two weeks and the Japanese round by one week.

There is no indication that the missing rounds at Montreal (Canadian Grand Prix) and Magny-Cours (French Grand Prix) may be reinstated.

Full updated calendar details here: 2009 F1 calendar

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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31 comments on “2009 F1 calendar shortened”

  1. I saw the revised calendar on the FIA site. Feels like we’re going to have a rather short season, in 2009, starting the last weekend of March, and finishing the first day of November. And, sadly, only 17 Grands Prix.

  2. The Chinese Grand Prix is now the second round instead of the 15th, and will be held in April.

    Oh, and China’s the 3rd race, after Australia and Malaysia.

  3. im sure they will reinstate either the canadian or french gp, canandian is more than likely.

    1. john macdonell
      7th June 2009, 20:23

      bye-bye Bernie

      Your greed took you away from Montreal and it’s sold out venues, you thought you’d make a killing in Turkey.

      Who’s the turkey now ?

  4. I think Canada will be back but not France. At least I hope that’s what happens.

  5. Visiting the Chinese GP twice in such a short space of time will not do much for the (already very poor) attendance.

  6. Lustigson – fixed, ta. And yes, 17 rounds instead of 19 when there should be 20+ sucks.

    Steve – I wish I shared your optimism…

  7. I don’t see France or Canada being reinstated. But the reorganization of the calendar is very good. Only the traditional summer break, and the usual back-to-back races.

    Having the Chinese GP in April will be very interesting.

  8. Seems like they are increasing the overall travel for the teams. Why not lump Singapore and Japan in with the other Eastern races.

    Also at the end of the season the teams will be going from Japan, half way around the world to Brazil and then back again to the Middle East?! What a waste!

    Well, they may actually have the same overall mileage to travel now that there is no reason to go to North America…

  9. My first thought on seeing China moved to April was – Weather ! and you picked this up straight away Keith.
    A quick google shows average temperatures lower and rain fall higher in April compared to October.

  10. This is getting crazy.

    We want more races, not less.

    I’d like 22 if possible and with the number of international race tracks around the world there is no reason (other than Bernie’s greed) that we couldn’t have that many.

    The U.S.A. & Canada should have two or three races between them, Central & Southern America should have at least two.

    It’d be nice if we could get at least one race in Africa too.

    Then it really would be a World Championship.

    Even if we can’t get the extra races in the Americas & Africa sorted out quickly then we’ve got loads of good tracks in Europe that could easily upgrade to F1 standards.

    Le Mans, for one, is safe enough & good enough to hold a couple of GP’s until they can sort something else out for a future French GP.

  11. yeah i agree, it’s sad to see races dropping off the calendar, and i can;t believe there will be no north american race this year! Some ‘world championship’

  12. Terry Fabulous
    6th November 2008, 0:12

    Excellent point Robert McKay. Expect more empty stands.

    You know, I used to think it was a really dumb idea. But I seriously believe now that every race should be held at the time of year most likely to be wet.

    When i think back to the classic races of the past few years the only one that wasn’t wet was Suzuka 2005 and that was great because it rained in qualy!

    Bring on more wet races!

  13. Sprinkler system for some improvised rain LOL;)
    I would love to see the calender grow to 20+ races but not in favour of crap circuits, IMO Magny Cours and Montreal should stay as they still offer the drivers a challenge and are good for the spectacle. I feel Valencia and Singapore although great for the sport by bringing on new circuits wern’t great races. The only good thing about Singapore was it being a night race IMO.

    I have a feeling we may have 2 races here in Britain in 2010 ;) Donnington will take over mantle of British GP and the merry go round of the European GP will come to Silverstone (well if they can get their facilities upto Bernie’s liking) How good would that be? ;) :D

    You have to remember guys also that they are trying to look like they are being environmentally viable and adding more races (more air miles with all the kit) they wont appear to achieve that. I’m not fussed if we dont have american races for a few years. Indianapolis is a boring circuit and if/when F1 goes back stateside surely they can try to impress as much as the newly developed circuits and maybe even bring back a street race in America.

  14. @ MattMan

    Some ‘world championship’

    Indeed! Formula One visits only 4 of the 7 inhabited continents: Europe, South-America, Asia, and Oceania. Heck, even IndyCar visited 3 continents, last season.

  15. Its Hammer time
    6th November 2008, 12:26

    Somers, I think you are being optimistic. I think we will be lucky if we have 1 grand prix in UK in 10′, let alone two

  16. It’s true I am being optimistic as I still don’t think Donnington will be ready in time. However if it is and Lewis is still as prominent as he is now i’m sure F1 will milk the cow ;)

  17. Re. no. 10 – I am surprised that no-one has thought to use the short Bugatti Circuit at Le Mans for F1.

  18. What about the new Autodromo Internacional do Algarve for a new F1 venue – it is hosting McLaren & Honda F1 testing in mid-Dec ’08? The track held it’s opening event last weekend with World Superbikes finale and was well received by teams & fans alike. Furthermore, it is already hosting A1GP, GP2 & Le Mans among others in ’09.

    Somers:
    it incorporates the sprinkler system you suggest!!

  19. Somers – while a Brit is F1 champion, I don’t think even Bernie would dare to abolish the British Grand Prix!

  20. Terry Fabulous
    6th November 2008, 20:59

    Maybe it should be part of the prize for being World Champion, that you get an additional (or new) GP in your homeland.

    Schumi had Nurburgring and Hockenheim.
    Fred had Valencia and Barcelona.
    Lewis could have Silverstone and Donnington Park.

  21. Terry Fabulous
    6th November 2008, 21:08

    Actually, lets go around the grounds!

    Sutil, Heidfeld, Vettel, Glock or Rosberg…
    Germany – Hockenheim and Nurburgring

    Massa, Piquet, Barrichello, Di Grassi (yes i know I am guessing)…
    Brazil – Interlagos and Rio (Is it still standing?)

    Alonso…
    Spain – Valencia and Barcelona

    Webber…
    Australia… Albert Park and Eastern Creek (upgraded?)

    Hamilton, Button…
    Great Britain – Silverstone and Donnington

    Trulli, Fisichella…
    Italy – Monza and Imola

    Heikki, Kimi
    Finland – Surely there is a track in there somewhere?

    Kubica
    Poland – Would need a new track but judging by the favourite driver poll, there would be a lot of interest!

    Bourdais
    France – Magny Cours, Paul Ricard and Monaco

    Kazuki
    Japan – Suzuka and Fuji

    This could work!

  22. Massa, Piquet, Barrichello, Di Grassi (yes i know I am guessing)…
    Brazil – Interlagos and Rio (Is it still standing?)

    Unfortunately Jacarepagua was murdered last year. There’s no Rio track anymore. The second best track we have is probably Nelson Piquet Circuit in Brasilia (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/Autodromonelsonpiquet.jpg), which did have one Formula 1 race in the 70’s, or Curitiba (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Autodromo_Curitiba.gif) which had a WTCC race a couple of years ago and is very fast. I also like Tarumã (http://www.autodromodetaruma.com.br/figuras/taruma_estrut.jpg) but it’s to short (3km) and fast, the Force India’s would get lapped every few laps.

  23. Somers,

    First up, there is no way in creation that Britain will get 2 GPs on the schedule as long as Bernie is running the show- he toyed around with the BRDC for years and just when it appeared that the upgrades would happen, he picked up the contract and walked north. And as long as Fernando is still racing in F1, Spain will continue to host their two Grands Prix- Bernie could put ten GPs in Spain and every one would be filled to overflow capacity even if Alonso was driving a Model T around the access roads.

    Second, as both a Formula One fan and a patriotic American, I will be polite and simply say that I don’t believe you would be very happy if you were in my shoes and Bernie pulled the plug on the British GP. Indy has its shortcomings, but it is a historic sporting venue that is a far cry form the soul-less Tilke creations popping up around the globe. With the double-hairpin now eliminated, I think the track could produce better racing than in its previous stint. If there was a good street track in America, fine, but do you really think Valencia and Singapore (or Monaco, for that matter) have produced any better racing than you saw at Indy?

    aok,

    The last thing I would ever do is grab attention for myself, but awhile back I came up with a few thoughts on your topic that you may enjoy reading:

    https://www.racefans.net/2008/10/15/could-f1-make-a-return-to-portugal-at-the-algarve-international-circuit/

  24. Gman

    Money talks and Bernie loves talking to it, given the opportunity to make more of it he will climb aboard the band wagon just as he did Fernando’s. Donnington’s facilities are so far behind the current Silverstone one’s IMO I don’t really comprehend the switch at such a short period I feel we may have a season where we don’t have a British GP as Donny won’t be ready and Bernie/Silverstone will still be rangling.

    I don’t have a problem losing the British GP i’ll travel to Spain/Belgium or Italy to watch one just as i’m doing next year. Already have my tickets for Silverstone and i’m planning a trip to Spa. I’m with you on the Valencia and Singapore front I find them boring and void of areas for overtaking (surely thats what we all want to see? Not the scenery? Be it at night or day….) I have no problem with an American GP on the calender it just seems that the options are being limited by track availability and the emerging countries are spending money on developing new circuits. Face it with the current financial situation in the world the East have the money and seem interested in financing F1 with a plephora of new tilke circuits :(

    aok – Thats why i mentioned it ;) With the shift of China to the start of the season it seems that they intent on manipulating the weather anyways :)

  25. @ Nick, No 17

    Maybe it’s because the track already exists.

    I would put money on it that Max & Bernie have found a way to get some commission out of all of the new tracks that have been built in recent years.

    I’ve suspected for a while that they are shareholders in Mr Tilke’s design company & that’s why he gets the contracts to design all of the circuits. Wouldn’t be too surprised if they’ve got an F1 construction company (or consultants) that has to be used to build the F1 tracks too.

    @ Gman

    You have my deepest sympathies mate, I think it’s disgusting that you don’t have a race in North America.
    I liked the Indy track & I also liked the look of the new design when the MotoGP went there this year.

    You’ll never find another American race track with the history of the Brickyard or fans that are so passionate about motor racing, I hope you’re back on the calendar as soon as possible.

  26. Somers,

    I agree with you 100% that Bernie loves making money, and is quite good at doing just that. However, the type of money that he’s interested in comes in the form of sanctioning fees payed by the venues that are around $20-30 million per year, with escallator clauses for each season afterward. If Bernie could find two venues in the UK that would pay up in that fashion, I could very easily see two GPs in Britain- the UK is truly the home of F1 in my opinion, the British fans are perhaps the most enthusiastic in the world, and I am sure that two GPs in the country would be a smash hit even without Hamilton’s success.

    But again, it all comes down to who wants to pay up. The BRDC and Damon Hill have demonstrated that Silverstone won’t submit to Bernie’s demands, and as a result, you’re not going to see F1 at the facility after next year, at least for as long as Bernie is in charge. As for the future of the British GP, it would be a crushing disappointment to me if the race was lost-Great Britian is the birthplace of F1 and continues to give a great deal to the sport. To me, F1 without Britain would be a criminal act, and hopefully Donnington won’t drop the ball on the project.

    As for the USA, if a decent street course that would allow overtaking could be found, then fine. But finding the right location is a major hassle and just look back at the history of American street tracks- except for Long Beach, none of them stuck around for very long as a racing venue (for various reasons). Like it or not, Indy is still a good bet, and it says a great deal about the IMS administration that they are still interested in the project after all the BS that Bernie and his people have thrown their way.

    beneboy,

    Thanks for the good words- my best wishes to the future of the GP in your country if you have one. Indeed Indy has a strong presence in motorsport history, and that is an important element in F1 to me. Also, it is a proven commodity that has bene made even better with the elimination of the double hairpin, and the whole thing could work very well if planned and promoted properly.

  27. Another reason for why they may have shortened the calender is because of the drivers. Would they be up for 20+ grand prixs a year? I would doubt it. The idea though is great because it would mean that the championship could go to every continent and be a “world champioship”.
    I would like to see Brands Hatch back on the scene. It is unfortunate how these older, greater circuits are fading away from formaula 1, just because of their facilities.

    1. I don’t think it’s anything to do with that – it’s all about money and politics. If they made more money by having 40 races, you can be sure we’d have a Grand Prix every weekend.

  28. If anyone needs accomodation for Monaco, I have an apartment in nearby Menton. It sleeps up to 4 people and it takes about ten minutes to get into Monaco on the train.
    Thank you
    Robin

  29. The stuff has gone now but if you looked at Wikipedia before 2010 rule changes were announced then you could look at proposals for 2010 and 2011.

    Included in this were ‘possible’ Grand Prix locations. Included in these were past holders like Portugal, South Africa etc.

    However there were some that I think would be the first for the country. Off the top of my head I can remember Russia, Czech Republic, African (I think this was supposed to be held somewhere in the North-Eastern region) amongst others. Which, if any, would you like to see happen? And do you know of any circuits in the aformentioned nations that could host one?

    I wish it was still there because we could get a full list!

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