FIA announces 2012 calendar

The FIA has confirmed the 2012 Formula One World Championship calendar, with an unprecedented 21 races scheduled.

After announcing that the 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix would be rescheduled for October 30 and moving the Indian Grand Prix to the end of this season, next season's championship will open with back-to-back races in Bahrain on March 11 and Australia on March 18. That's followed two weeks later by races in Malaysia and China on consecutive weekends.

The Korean Grand Prix moves to the earlier slot of April 22, while the new United States Grand Prix at Austin is scheduled for June 17; one week after the race in Canada. The Turkish Grand Prix, subject to confirmation, opens the European season, while the year will end in Brazil on November 25.

2012 calendar in full:

11/03 BHR Bahrain
18/03 AUS Australia
01/04 MYS Malaysia
08/04 CHN China
22/04 KOR Korea
06/05 TUR Turkey *
20/05 ESP Spain
27/05 MCO Monaco
10/06 CAN Canada
17/06 USA United States
01/07 ESP Valencia, Spain
15/07 GBR Great Britain
29/07 DEU Germany
05/08 HUN Hungary
02/09 BEL Belgium
09/09 ITA Italy
30/09 SGP Singapore
14/10 JPN Japan
28/10 IND India
11/11 ARE Abu Dhabi
25/11 BRA Brazil
* Subject to confirmation

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