The 2016 F1 season could start in April
The 2016 Formula 1 season could see a condensed schedule, with the inaugural Grand Prix in Australia being pushed back to April. The rest of the dates could also be rearranged with shorter gaps between races.
The 2015 season is barely at its beginning, and reflections on the 2016 calendar are already underway. According to Autosport, next year’s inaugural Grand Prix, which will once again take place in Melbourne, Australia, could be held on Sunday, April 3.
This would be the first time since 1988 that the Formula 1 season would start so late. Although no official reason has been given yet, British journalist Jonathan Noble believes that FOM wishes to reorganize the calendar to have more condensed race dates, with shorter breaks between the different Grand Prix, in an effort to reduce costs for teams and maintain public interest.
The first draft of the calendar will probably not be published before September, as is tradition. The number of races on the calendar is therefore not yet known, but with the removal of the German Grand Prix this year and the threats looming over the Italian Grand Prix, several changes could take place.
The first discussions regarding the 2016 calendar are scheduled to take place on May 14th, during the next meeting of the F1 Strategy Group.
