Formula One bosses have revealed 23 races will take place in just 36 weeks as the sport launched its record-breaking calendar for next season.
Bahrain will host the opening round of the new campaign on March 20, with Abu Dhabi the stage for the concluding event exactly eight months later.
The British Grand Prix will take place on the opening weekend of July – avoiding a clash with the climax of Wimbledon – while the Chinese GP in Shanghai has been scrapped for a third successive campaign.
Formula 1 announces 2022 calendar pic.twitter.com/F3fgeJUp65
— F1 Media (@F1Media) October 15, 2021
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Melbourne’s Albert Park, the traditional curtain raiser, has been pushed back to April 10th.
Australia has some of the strictest Covid-19 travel restrictions in the world, but F1 executives remain hopeful the race will not fall off the calendar for a third year in succession.
The sport’s first race in Miami will be staged on May 8th. The PA news agency understands a third American race could be added to the calendar in 2023, with Las Vegas thought to be the front-runner.
The ongoing pandemic means China isn’t on the calendar in 2022 but we can’t wait to get back there and see our amazing fans as soon as we can.#F1 🇨🇳 (📸 2019) pic.twitter.com/k5eYut5e5y
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 15, 2021
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The 2022 schedule will bring added strain on the sport’s travelling circus, with seven back-to-back races, two triple headers, and six races in seven whirlwind weeks following the August break.
F1 will also undergo a major overhaul of it regulations next season in the hope of producing closer racing, while CEO Stefano Domenicali has stated his desire to stage sprint races at as many as eight events.
“We are excited to announce the 2022 calendar as we prepare to enter a new era for the sport,” said Domenicali.
“This season has been incredible so far with great battles on the track, large audiences tuning in and fans returning to the races after the impact of the pandemic.
“We look forward to welcoming more fans back next season and hope 2022 feels more normal than the life we have all experienced in the past two years.
“We are very pleased with the interest in Formula One from places that want to host races and the growth of the sport, and believe we have a fantastic calendar for 2022 with destinations like Miami joining famous and historic venues.
“The pandemic is still with us, and we will therefore continue to be vigilant and safe – to protect all our personnel and the communities we visit.”
Six grands prix of this season’s 22-race campaign remain. Lewis Hamilton is six points adrift of rival Max Verstappen as he pursues a record eighth world title.
2022 Formula One calendar
March 20 – Bahrain Grand Prix (Sakhir)
March 27 – Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (Jeddah)
April 10 – Australian Grand Prix (Melbourne)
April 24 – Emilia Romagna Grand Prix (Imola)
May 8 – Miami Grand Prix
May 22 – Spanish Grand Prix (Barcelona)
May 29 – Monaco Grand Prix
June 12 – Azerbaijan Grand Prix (Baku)
June 19 – Canadian Grand Prix (Montreal)
July 3 – British Grand Prix (Silverstone)
July 10 – Austrian Grand Prix (Spielberg)
July 24 – French Grand Prix (Le Castellet)
July 31 – Hungarian Grand Prix (Budapest)
August 28 – Belgian Grand Prix (Spa-Francorchamps)
September 4 – Dutch Grand Prix (Zandvoort)
September 11 – Italian Grand Prix (Monza)
September 25 – Russian Grand Prix (Sochi)
October 2 – Singapore Grand Prix (Marina Bay)
October 9 – Japanese Grand Prix (Suzuka)
October 23 – US Grand Prix (Austin)
October 30 – Mexican Grand Prix (Mexico City)
November 13 – Brazilian Grand Prix (Interlagos)
November 20 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Yas Marina)
