FIA publishes 2009 calendar

The French Grand Prix has been named on the 19-race provisional calendar for the 2009 Formula One World Championship.

No US GP but maiden race for Abu Dhabi

The FIA has published the provisional calendar for the 2009 Formula One season, with the French Grand Prix retaining its place for another year. However, the United States Grand Prix, which was left off this year's calendar for the first time since 1999, will not make a comeback. Abu Dhabi will host its first race, with the emirate set to close a season which provisionally comprises 19 events. With a new harbourside street circuit, Abu Dhabi will become the second grand prix in the Middle East after Bahrain on a calender that otherwise features the same countries as this year. There are date changes, however, with the British Grand Prix moved one month earlier to June while, after just one season being held in May, the Turkish Grand Prix moves back to August. And there are also four back-to-back races, starting with the season opener in Australia and Malaysia. Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone said at the French Grand Prix last weekend that the race was likely to stay at Magny-Cours after previously stating that it would be axed. The French Motor Sports Federation (FFSA) has a contract to run the race until 2011 but Ecclestone is eager to move it from the rural circuit to a track closer to Paris. "We've got a contract here for another couple of years," he said on Sunday. "Although the FFSA, who are the promoters, agreed two years ago that 2008 would be the last race, now they are saying 2009 will be the last race but I'm sure it's not." Disneyland Paris is a favoured option for the future, with plenty of hotel rooms and easy rail access from Paris and the rest of Europe. The 2009 French Grand Prix has still to be approved by the general assembly of the FFSA on Thursday. Provisional 2009 calendar: 29 March - Australia
5 April - Malaysia
19 April - Bahrain
10 May - Spain
24 May - Monaco
7 June - Canada
21 June - Great Britain
28 June - France
12 July - Germany
26 July - Hungary
9 August - Turkey
23 August - Europe (Valencia)
6 September - Italy
13 September- Belgium
27 September - Singapore
11 October - Japan
18 October - China
1 November - Brazil
15 November - Abu Dhabi