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The FIA has released a provisional schedule for the 2012 Formula 1 calender and it seems at least one race will be dropped.
The FIA's president, Jean Todt, was more specific: he said a dropped race was definite - but nothing is 'definite' in Formula 1.
The governing body's World Motor Sport Council has rubber-stamped a provisional schedule for 2012 with an unprecedented 21 race dates - among them the season-opening Bahrain race and the inaugural US GP in Texas, but the only race marked "subject to confirmation" is Turkey in early May.
It emerged recently that the Istanbul race would not take place in 2012 because officials did not agree to a dramatically increased sanctioning fee demanded by Bernie Ecclestone.
Asked by Spanish newspaper Diario Sport if a record 21 GP's would be raced, FIA president Todt answered: "Absolutely not. There are 21 dates but the championship will be 20."
Asked if Turkey's conditional date meant Istanbul Park would be dropped, the Frenchman added: "I don't know which one will go, but the championship will be 20 races."
2012 calendar (for now)
1 Bahrain GP, Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir - 11 March
2 Australian GP, Albert Park, Melbourne - 18 March
3 Malaysian GP, Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur - 1 April
4 Chinese GP, Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai - 8 April
5 Korean GP, Korean International Circuit, Yeongam - 22 April
*6 Turkish GP, Turkish GP, Istanbul Park - 6 May
7 Spanish GP, Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona - 20 May
8 Monaco GP, Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo - 27 May
9 Canadian GP, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal - 10 June
10 United States GP, Circuit of the Americas, Austin - 17 June
11 European GP, Valencia Street Circuit, Valencia - 1 July
12 British GP, Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone - 15 July
13 German GP, Hockenheimring, Hockenheim - 29 July
14 Hungarian GP, Hungaroring, Budapest - 5 August
15 Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps, Spa - 2 September
16 Italian GP, Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza - 9 September
17 Singapore GP, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Marina Bay - 30 September
18 Japanese GP, Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka - 14 October
19 Indian GP, Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida - 28 October
20 Abu Dhabi GP, Abu Dhabi GP, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi - 11 November
21 Brazilian GP, Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo - 25 November
F1 2012 calender changes:
*The Turkish GP is subject to confirmation with the FIA.
The Bahrain GP will return to the opening race of the season after the 2011 race was postponed, and later reinstated at the end of the season.
The Brazilian GP will return to the position of season finale for the first time since 2008.
The Korean GP will be moved to April, which will see the Monaco GP become the eighth race of the season, its latest calendar position in the event's eighty-year history.
In May 2010, it was announced that Austin, Texas would host the return of the United States GP, the first race since Indianapolis in 2007.
The FIA's president, Jean Todt, was more specific: he said a dropped race was definite - but nothing is 'definite' in Formula 1.
The governing body's World Motor Sport Council has rubber-stamped a provisional schedule for 2012 with an unprecedented 21 race dates - among them the season-opening Bahrain race and the inaugural US GP in Texas, but the only race marked "subject to confirmation" is Turkey in early May.
It emerged recently that the Istanbul race would not take place in 2012 because officials did not agree to a dramatically increased sanctioning fee demanded by Bernie Ecclestone.
Asked by Spanish newspaper Diario Sport if a record 21 GP's would be raced, FIA president Todt answered: "Absolutely not. There are 21 dates but the championship will be 20."
Asked if Turkey's conditional date meant Istanbul Park would be dropped, the Frenchman added: "I don't know which one will go, but the championship will be 20 races."
2012 calendar (for now)
1 Bahrain GP, Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir - 11 March
2 Australian GP, Albert Park, Melbourne - 18 March
3 Malaysian GP, Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur - 1 April
4 Chinese GP, Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai - 8 April
5 Korean GP, Korean International Circuit, Yeongam - 22 April
*6 Turkish GP, Turkish GP, Istanbul Park - 6 May
7 Spanish GP, Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona - 20 May
8 Monaco GP, Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo - 27 May
9 Canadian GP, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal - 10 June
10 United States GP, Circuit of the Americas, Austin - 17 June
11 European GP, Valencia Street Circuit, Valencia - 1 July
12 British GP, Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone - 15 July
13 German GP, Hockenheimring, Hockenheim - 29 July
14 Hungarian GP, Hungaroring, Budapest - 5 August
15 Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps, Spa - 2 September
16 Italian GP, Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza - 9 September
17 Singapore GP, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Marina Bay - 30 September
18 Japanese GP, Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka - 14 October
19 Indian GP, Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida - 28 October
20 Abu Dhabi GP, Abu Dhabi GP, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi - 11 November
21 Brazilian GP, Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo - 25 November
F1 2012 calender changes:
*The Turkish GP is subject to confirmation with the FIA.
The Bahrain GP will return to the opening race of the season after the 2011 race was postponed, and later reinstated at the end of the season.
The Brazilian GP will return to the position of season finale for the first time since 2008.
The Korean GP will be moved to April, which will see the Monaco GP become the eighth race of the season, its latest calendar position in the event's eighty-year history.
In May 2010, it was announced that Austin, Texas would host the return of the United States GP, the first race since Indianapolis in 2007.