FIA releases provisional 2008 calendar

The French Grand Prix will keep its place on the Formula 1 calendar next year, while Australia will retain its traditional role as the season-opener.

The FIA released a provisional 2008 schedule on Friday, listing 18 races including the new events in Valencia - which will take over the European Grand Prix moniker - and Singapore.

France was initially expected to lose its race after Bernie Ecclestone said F1 would not be returning to Magny-Cours, but the Nevers circuit has secured a stay of execution while a new venue is sought in Paris.

The end of the contract between F1 and Indianapolis means there will be no US Grand Prix for the first time since 1999, leaving Canada as the only North American race.

The Montreal event is pending contractual confirmation, while Singapore and Valencia are subject to the street circuits being approved.

The other notable change is the move of the Turkish GP from August to May.


Provisional 2008 calendar

March 16 Australia
March 23 Malaysia
April 6 Bahrain
April 27 Spain
May 11 Turkey
May 25 Monaco
June 6 Canada*
June 22 France
July 6 Great Britain
July 20 Germany
August 3 Hungary
August 24 Europe (Valencia)**
September 7 Italy
September 14 Belgium
September 28 Singapore**
October 12 China
October 19 Japan
November 2 Brazil

* pending contractual confirmation
** subject to circuit approval

Source: ITV.com/F1

Going into November now! :shock:

Suprised San Marino isn't back, but I guess it's the whole one-race-in-a-country thing (which still doesn't explain Spain's 2, of course pending Valencia gets the nod). Also, was expecting 20 GP's for '08 too (really that should be the maximum for any season IMO).

We'll just have to see if any major changes take place before the official calendar is released [which no changes ever happen, unless of course the French GP is mentioned to be in April :lol:]

I think the FIA should make the calendar a lottery each year :P, draw each race out of a hat then the races will be in that order for the year pending contracts with the circuit of course.

But i think it'll throw everything up in the air, weather will play a big part. weather it be cold or hot, raining or sunny. :lol:

I think the FIA should make the calendar a lottery each year :P, draw each race out of a hat then the races will be in that order for the year pending contracts with the circuit of course.

But i think it'll throw everything up in the air, weather will play a big part. weather it be cold or hot, raining or sunny. :lol:

kipi19

never going to happen.....what if the first race is catalunya in spain, the second race is shanghai, then the third race is valencia? that would mean the teams would have to fly to china from spain, then back to spain which would be a bigger waste of money than ralf schumachers salary

also whats with the 3 week break between bahrain and spain?

I thought france was taken off the calendar for 2008?

well, leave the ones in the same country out, and them draw them into the lottery and they are not aloud to be no closer to each than 3 races.

meaning there has to be at least a 3 race gap between the GPs

well, leave the ones in the same country out, and them draw them into the lottery and they are not aloud to be no closer to each than 3 races.

meaning there has to be at least a 3 race gap between the GPs

kipi19

its still not practical.....again working from my first response, the first race could be european, the second japanese/chinese, then the third european ....the calender was designed so the teams would have to travel the shortest distance possible to each GP...your idea would put much unneeded strain on the teams, raise costs, and probably shorten the number of GPs per year because of the extra travelling distance.

Dont get me wrong your idea would be good, maybe for a smaller formula based on one country, but is too flawed and unprofessional for the standards of formula one