NOVEMBER 5, 2008

China moves to April

The FIA World Council met in Paris this morning to discuss the matters of the moment and the federation has now issued a new Formula 1 calendar for 2009 with the Chinese Grand Prix moving from its normal October date to a date in April. The Shanghai event will now be twinned with Bahrain, which will be a week later than planned.

The season has been shortened as a result with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix being moved forward two weeks from its original November 15 date to November 1. The full list is as follows: Australia (Melbourne), March 29; Malaysia, April 5; China, April 19; Bahrain, April 26; Spain (Barcelona), May 10; Monaco, May 24; Turkey June 7; Great Britain (Silverstone), June 21; Germany, July 12; Hungary, July 26; Europe (Valencia), August 23; Belgium, August 30; Italy (Monza), September 13; Singapore, September 27; Japan, October 4; Brazil, October 18; and Abu Dhabi, November 1.