The 2010 Formula One calendar moved a step closer to being finalized following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on Wednesday in Paris.
The biggest change made to the provisional schedule released earlier this summer is the date of the Monaco Grand Prix, which has been moved forward one week to May 16. That means the Monaco race will take place one week after the Spanish Grand Prix and two weeks before the Turkish Grand Prix.
Formula One teams had expressed concerns about getting their equipment from Monaco to Turkey in the span of one week.
The FIA has also approved a date swap for the Brazilian and Abu Dhabi races meaning the season will once again finish in the Middle East next year. This is pending an agreement between the promoters of both events.
The Canadian Grand Prix is still listed as provisional on the calendar but the FIA notes it is expecting confirmation from Formula One Management - Bernie Ecclestone's group - that a contract has been signed "shortly."
Similar provisional status remains for the British Grand Prix and Korean Grand Prix. Organizers of the British race at Donington have been given until the end of this week to rectify a contract situation otherwise the event will likely be moved back to Silverstone.
The Korean race is simply waiting for FIA to give the newly built race circuit the thumbs up.
The FIA hopes to confirm the 2010 calendar at the next meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in December.
2010 FIA Formula One World Championship - Provisional
March 14 Bahrain
March 28 Australia
April 4 Malaysia
April 18 China
May 9 Spain
May 16 Monaco
May 30 Turkey
June 13 Canada **
June 27 Europe (Valencia)
July 11 Great Britain **
July 25 Germany
August 8 Hungary
August 29 Belgium
September 12 Italy
September 26 Singapore
October 3 Japan
October 17 Korea *
October 31 Abu Dhabi ++
October 14 Brazil ++
*Subject to the homologation of the circuit.
**Subject to the completion of contract negotiations
with Formula One Management.
++ The FIA has approved in principle a proposal to swap
the dates of the Abu Dhabi and Brazil grands prix, pending
agreement with the promoters of both events.