FIA announces 2015 calendar

Yesterday, the FIA has officially confirmed that the 2015 Formula 1 season will run to a 20-race calendar. This is with the schedule containing only minor tweaks from a leaked list which circulated at Monza last weekend.

With the scheduled calendar which was given to all the teams currently on the grid for inspection during the Italian Grand Prix last weekend, next season’s roster is back up to the record high of 20 races which was first set in 2012 following the return of the Mexican GP. But otherwise the schedule does largely following the pattern of this year’s 19-date version.

However, there are a couple of key date changes over the final flyaway rounds of the 2015 season. Singapore and Japan are now slated to run back-to-back in late September. This now means what will be Russia’s second grand prix will be a standalone event with the U.S. GP at Austin will now take place a week before F1’s return to Mexico on October 25.

As has become tradition with the sport, the season opener is in Australia on March 15, with the campaign to again finish in Abu Dhabi, on November 29 which is the latest finish to a campaign since 1963 season.

Despite complaints this year about the creation of a two-week gap between Australia and Malaysia, a fortnight break still remains between the two opening rounds. So now with Malaysia and Bahrain therefore the first of four back-to-back events on the schedule for next year. Also, the 2015 British GP will take place on July 5.

The 2015 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar is as follows:-

15 March Australian GP

29 March Malaysian GP

5 April Bahrain GP

19 April Chinese GP

10 May Spanish GP

24 May Monaco GP

7 June Canadian GP

21 June Austrian GP

5 July British GP

19 July German GP

26 July Hungarian GP

23 August Belgian GP

6 September Italian GP

20 September Singapore GP

27 September Japanese GP

11 October Russian GP

25 October U.S. GP

1 November Mexican GP

15 November Brazilian GP

29 November Abu Dhabi GP

Meanwhile, in an additional announcement following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Beijing this weekend announced that the FIA are in the process for drivers applying for superlicences (the mandatory requirement for all drivers to compete in F1) would be reviewed.

Under the current system, young drivers qualify if they have finished in the top three of certain junior championships within the previous two years including GP2 (or have been the reigning champion in the Formula 3 Euroseries or national equivalents). Otherwise, they have to have completed at least 300km in a current F1 car consistently at racing speeds over a maximium period of two days.

However, Toro Rosso’s decision to hand 16-year-old rookie Max Verstappen his F1 debut for next season after just a single year in the European F3 Championship (a series which doesn't qualify a driver for a superlicence directly) has raised questions about whether the existing licence regulations remain relevant.

In a statement to the media, the FIA confirmed the following regarding the procedures for a Super Licence:-

'A mandate has been given to the FIA Administration to review the qualification and conditions for the issuing of a super licence, in consultation with all parties concerned. A proposal will be put forward for WMSC approval in December for implementation in 2016.'

From the announcements yesterday that to review the FIA qualifications and conditions for a Super License would be expected by many. This is obviously due to Verstappen making his debut in F1 at sixteen years old. But all we can do regarding this matter is see what proposal is put forward and see if the teams, the FIA and the World Motorsport Council agree to them. And I expect that it shouldn't be too long before the proposal is sent to all the relevant parties either.

But in regards to the calendar, it is clear that it will be a busy 2015 season ahead with Mexico making its debut since 1992. And all eyes will be upon them for a great first Grand Prix. And with the money that Mexico has invested into hosting a Grand Prix, they will need to put on a show.

But Formula One in 2015 might be a busy season and if this season and the racing is anything to go by, who knows what might happen? Will we see yet another great battle for the championships in 2015? Only time will tell.