USF1blog.com recently published the provisional 2010 Formula 1 calendar, but now the official 2010 F1 calendar has been released and it shows a 19-round championship. Such a number of destinations has not been seen in F1 since the 2005 campaign.

Bahrain will take over as the season-opening event next year, with Australia presented as the second round. Taking into account daylight savings time, the change allows the Melbourne race to start at 5pm, following the trend of ‘twilight’ races imposed by Bernie Ecclestone in order to favor television coverage for European audiences.

The Malaysian Grand Prix will retain its twilight status, however the race is scheduled an hour earlier with hopes of avoiding a mid-race wash-out as was the case this year due to the daily fierce rainstorms of April. Abu Dhabi follows the late-day race format as well, while Singapore remains a late-evening event under the floodlights.

Canada appears on the 2010 calendar although the contract remains to be signed – if negotiations should fall through again, Turkey – which appears on the calendar in any case – will be delayed two weeks in order to take over Canada’s reserved date.

New to the Formula One championship will be the Korean Grand Prix, with a debut set for October. Brazil will recuperate its traditional role as the season-ending race, this time in mid-November.

2010 Formula 1 calendar

(1) March 14 – Bahrain (Sakhir)
(2) March 28 – Australia (Melbourne)
(3) April 4 – Malaysia (Sepang)
(4) April 18 – China (Shanghai)
(5) May 9 – Spain (Barcelona)
(6) May 23 – Monaco (Monte Carlo)
(7) May 30 – Turkey (Istanbul)
(8) June 13 – Canada* (Montreal)
(9) June 27 – Europe (Valencia)
(10) July 11 – Great Britain (Donington)
(11) July 25 – Germany (Hockenheim)
(12) August 1 – Hungary (Budapest)
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(13) August 29 – Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
(14) September 12 – Italy (Monza)
(15) September 26 – Singapore (Singapore)
(16) October 3 – Japan (Suzuka)
(17) October 17 – Korea (Yeongam County)
(18) October 31 – Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)
(19) November 14 – Brazil (Interlagos)

*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 6 June.

photo credit ©XPB

Author: Jeff