2018 Formula 1 calendar revised

Manama : The 2018 Formula 1 calendar has been revised, with the Chinese and Bahrain Grands Prix swapping dates.

The long-anticipated change was finally officially confirmed by the F1 organisation yesterday. 

China has now moved to April 15, with Bahrain taking the April 8 slot.

It had been expected that the swap would be rubber-stamped at the World Motor Sport Council meeting last week, but no changes were announced at that time.

Instead it was confirmed when F1 announced that the Shanghai event, which had been listed on the provisional calendar as ‘subject to confirmation’, had extended its contract.

Chinese GP organisers had been keen for the date change to avoid a national holiday.

Formal approval of the change still has to come from the World Motor Sport Council, which next meets in Paris on December 6.

With Singapore having also secured its future into 2018 and beyond, next year’s schedule now appears to be firm. 

2018 F1 calendar

 March 25Melbourne, Australia 

 April 8Sakhir, Bahrain 

 April 15Shanghai, China 

 April 29Baku, Azerbaijan 

 May 13Barcelona, Spain 

 May 27Monaco 

 June 10Montreal, Canada 

 June 24Paul Ricard, France 

 July 1Red Bull Ring, Austria 

 July 8Silverstone, Great Britain 

 July 22Hockenheim, Germany 

 July 29Hungaroring, Hungary 

 August 26Spa, Belgium 

 September 2Monza, Italy 

 September 16Singapore 

 September 30Sochi, Russia 

 October 7Suzuka, Japan 

 October 21Austin, USA 

 October 28Mexico City, Mexico 

 November 11Interlagos, Brazil 

 November 25Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi