The Turkish Grand Prix has been officially dropped from next year's Formula 1 calendar, after the FIA announced the definitive 20-race schedule, with the new U.S. GP at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, now officially set for Nov. 18.
Last month, the Turkish event was taken off the provisional calendar issued by the FIA earlier this year as part of a revised version submitted by Bernie Ecclestone. Despite discussions between Turkish organizers and Ecclestone no deal could be reached, which means the event will now not be part of the schedule for the first time since 2005.
As part of changes approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council in a fax vote, the Bahrain Grand Prix has been moved from its season-opening slot to take place on April 22 – much earlier in the schedule than the teams had expected in the calendar version they were shown recently.
It has been swapped with the Indian GP, which will now move to Oct. 28, while the new U.S. race moves from its original date of June 17 to Nov. 18. Race organizers in Austin and Delhi had both wanted their events moved back because of the hot weather in April and June in their respective regions.
The season will start in Australia on March 18, and the final two races will be back-to-back events in Austin and Brazil on Nov. 18 and 25.
2012 Formula 1 World Championship
March 18, Melbourne, Australia
March 25, Sepang, Malaysia
April 15, Beijjing, China
April 22, Sakhir, Bahrain
May 13, Barcelona, Spain
May 27, Monaco
June 10, Montreal, Canada
June 24, Valencia, Spain (European GP)
July 8, Silverstone, UK
July 22, Hockenheim, Germany
July 29, Hungaroring, Hungary
Sept. 2, Spa, Belgium
Sept. 9, Monza, Italy
Sept. 23, Singapore
Oct. 7, Japan
Oct. 14, Korea
Oct. 28, Delhi, India
Nov. 4, Abu Dhabi
Nov. 18, Austin, Texas (United States GP)
Nov. 25, Sao Paulo, Brazil