Zoom The Abu Dhabi GP moves up two weeks to November 1st

The FIA's World Motor Sport Council met in Paris in order to review several matters, including a reform of the procedures stewards will follow starting with next year's races. The WMSC confirmed the use of three-race engines as well.

Additionally, the 2009 Formula One calendar has been partly revised.

The Chinese Grand Prix will now take place in April instead of October, meaning that the F1 world will compete on the Shanghai circuit only six months to the day after this year's race.

Bahrain has been pushed back one week while Japan heads in the other direction and moves up one week. Brazil sees its race rescheduled two weeks earlier, from early November to mid-October.

The span of the 2009 season has been shortened as well, since the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will close the season on November 1st instead of the 15th.

The Canadian Grand Prix still does not appear on the revised calendar pending a solution with FOM. The French GP has been removed following the promotors' forfeit of next year's event for financial reasons.

2009 FIA Formula One World Championship

29 March      Australia
5 April       Malaysia
19 April      China
26 April      Bahrain
10 May        Spain
24 May        Monaco
7 June        Turkey
21 June       Great Britain
12 July       Germany
26 July       Hungary 
23 August     Europe (Valencia)
30 August     Belgium
13 September  Italy
27 September  Singapore
4 October     Japan
18 October    Brazil 
1 November    Abu Dhabi

Daniel BASTIEN
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