Formula 1's 2010 Schedule Adds South Korea and Welcomes Canada Back

PARIS — One new event and the return of an old favorite will give the Formula 1 Grand Prix series a 19-event schedule in 2010, the sport's governing body announced Monday.

The inaugural South Korean Grand Prix is slated for Oct. 17, the 17th race of the season, at a 3.5-mile (5.6 kilometer) course now under construction about 200 miles south of Seoul.

The eighth round of the championship is scheduled at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, marking the return of the Canadian Grand Prix after a one-year absence from the F1 trail. That race is tentative, pending completion of a contract with Formula One Management, according to sanctioning body Fédération Internationale de L'Automobile (FIA).

The season is slated to open in the Middle East, at Bahrain, on March 14. Flyaway races in Australia, Malaysia and China are next before the series returns west for round five in Spain, the first of a nine-race stretch with only two events — Canada and Turkey — outside the European Union.

On September 26, the circuit heads back to the Far East for the Singapore, Japan and Korea races before concluding with the penultimate race in the Middle East (Abu Dhabi) and the finale in South America (Brazil).

The British Grand Prix is set to move from Silverstone, site of the first race in modern F1 history in 1950, to Donington Park next season.

Still missing from the calendar are the French Grand Prix, which was absent from the 2009 schedule for only the second time since 1950, and the U.S. Grand Prix, which was revived for an eight-year run at Indianapolis from 2000 to 2007.

Inside Line says: All the drama, litigation and infighting aside, next season should be great for Formula 1. — David Green, Correspondent

2010 FIA Formula 1 World Championship Calendar


March 14 - Bahrain
March 28 - Australia
April 4 - Malaysia
April 18 - China
May 9 - Spain
May 23 - Monaco
May 30 - Turkey
June 13 - Canada*
June 27 - Europe (Valencia)
July 11 - Great Britain
July 25 - Germany
Aug. 1 - Hungary
Aug. 29- Belgium
Sept. 12 - Italy
Sept. 26 - Singapore
Oct. 3 - Japan
Oct. 17 - Korea
Oct. 31 - Abu Dhabi
Nov. 14 - Brazil
*Subject to the completion of contract negotiations with Formula One Management. If these are not completed then the Turkish Grand Prix will be moved to June 6.

 

I must remember to put some pre-season bets on.