2013 Formula 1 World Championship Provisional Calendar

The FIA released the provisional calendar for 2013 at the FIA World Council meeting in September 2012.

There are 20 races scheduled, and the European Grand Prix in Valencia, Spain, was cut from the calendar. Spain has been hit by the economic crisis and could no longer afford two races, as it still has one in Barcelona, the Spanish Grand Prix. But the country will now alternate the Spanish Grand Prix in alternate years between the Barcelona track and the street track in Valencia.

The Bahrain Grand Prix:

The were few other changes in the calendar, however, unlike last year when there were many and the changes were mostly as a result of complaints by teams about the 2012 provisional F1 calendar released earlier in the season. After huge speculation on the future of the Bahrain Grand Prix, and whether or not it should run, it is listed once again as the fourth race of the season. Bahrain has become a controversial race in that it was cancelled in 2011 because of the political uprisings in the country. The series raced in Bahrain this year and the country had demonstrations against the race and government in its own Arab Spring uprising. But the demonstrations, it has been noted, were particularly strong during the time the race visited the country, in order to profit by the worldwide spotlight on Bahrain for the race, and they have gone very quiet since then.

The Grand Prix of New Jersey:

After more speculation as to whether Formula 1 will stage two races in the U.S. - it is introducing the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, in November 2012, the new calendar has once again included the race set to take place in New Jersey, with the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop. Even one week before the schedule was released, Bernie Ecclestone, the Formula 1 promoter, said there was no longer a contract in place for the New Jersey race. But clearly Formula 1 is giving the local organizers another chance, as the race has been included on the calendar, with the proviso: To Be Confirmed.

The Goal of the 20-Race Season:

After 2012 was the first season in which there really were 20 races, the 2013 season also schedules 20 races. But if the U.S. Grand Prix is dropped, then it will go back to the more often run 19 races of recent years. Some team owners have said that 20 races is the maximum the series should be doing, while others have long said the series could go up a few more than that. But the logistics of travelling around the world are extreme in Formula 1, and the squeeze in one week between China and Bahrain will again be a challenges.

See the provisional 2013 calendar in the table below:

2013 Provisional F1 Calendar