More details about the Formula 1 schedule for 2022 have been revealed ahead of its release next week.
The 23-event calendar is expected to start in Bahrain in March, and end in Abu Dhabi in mid-November.
Speedcafe.com has revealed that the Australian Grand Prix will be held on April 10, in the third round.
Formula 1 teams received a draft calendar at the Italian Grand Prix. These copies soon became public domain.
Sources within the paddock have cast doubt on their accuracy.
Turkey’s key figures are fronting the media this weekend and have allowed details to slip.
This confirms that there will be at least two double-headers. The first will take in the Belgian Grand Prix, Dutch Grand Prix, and Italian Grand Prix, just like it did last year.
The Russian, Singapore and Japanese Grands Prix follow in rapid succession.
According to reports, the Singapore Grand Prix is competing for a place on the calendar with Turkey. However, if it goes ahead, it would almost certainly be at a revised Marina Bay circuit.
The two triple headers will result in six races over seven weeks after the summer break.
Franz Tost, AlphaTauri boss, stated that “the first triple header, it’s Zandvoort Spa and Monza”
“The second one with Russia and Singapore is heavier, but logistically everything is under control. We are almost in the same time zone so I don’t anticipate any major problems.”
Due to the extra work they place on staff, triple headers are not popular with teams.
Laurent Mekies (racing director at Ferrari) stated that Formula 1 faces a lot of challenges in putting together a great calendar given the COVID-19 pandemic.
“So, in that context we understand that teams need to have some flexibility and that is why we just need to deal with these triple headers now.
“When hopefully the pandemic has passed, I’m sure that we’ll be able to sit down again and discuss how to proceed. It’s the most difficult aspect for the race team.
“So hopefully it’ll be the first thing we will get rid of once the pandemic has passed our radar.”
Miami organizers announced last month that the first Formula 1 event would be held on May 8. However, no official word has been provided by Formula 1.
Although it was expected that the Canadian Grand Prix would be paired with it, it is now expected that it will be an independent event sandwiched between the Chinese Grand Prix and Spanish Grand Prix.
F1 will make its second North American appearance in June in Montreal, before returning to the United States Grand Prix in October. This is a back-toback event with Mexico City.
The 2022 calendar will be available next week in conjunction with the World Motor Sport Council meeting on October 15.
