Draft Formula One Calendar Leak Confirmed

The proposed calendar for the 2016 F1 season was leaked, the commercial rights holder of the sport has confirmed.

In a highly unusual statement, Formula One Management said: "It would appear that the proposed 2016 calendar has been leaked. This calendar has not yet been approved."

While stressing that the schedule has not yet been ratified, FOM's description of the leak as the proposed 2016 calendar thus also effectively acknowledges that the leak, first published by Autosport, is an accurate reflection of its current intentions.

As widely predicted, the proposed schedule includes 21 races, staged between 3 April and 27 November, with seven back-to-back double-headers.

If ratified, the calendar would limit the sport's annual summer break to three weeks, while Malaysia would be moved from its usual early-season slot to September, with the Russian GP taking place in May instead.

To the relief of F1 purists, the calendar also includes the under-threat Italian GP at Monza.

The German GP, which was dropped from this year's timetable, would return at Hockenheim, two weeks after the European GP at Baku in Azerbaijan.

Australian GP organisers announced earlier this week that their Melbourne event would be staged in the first week of April, paving the way for the latest start to an F1 season since 1988.

The proposed 2016 calendar is:

April 3: Australia (Albert Park)

April 10: China (Shanghai)

April 24: Bahrain (Sakhir)

May 1: Russia (Sochi)

May 15: Spain (Barcelona)

May 29: Monaco (Monte Carlo)

June 12: Canada (Montreal)

June 26: Britain (Silverstone)

July 3: Austria (Red Bull Ring)

July 17: Europe (Baku)

July 31: Germany (Hockenheim)

August 7: Hungary (Hungaroring)

August 28: Belgium (Spa)

September 4: Italy (Monza)

September 18: Singapore (Marina Bay)

September 25: Malaysia (Sepang)

October 9: Japan (Suzuka)

October 23: USA (Austin)

October 30: Mexico (Mexico City)

November 13: Brazil (Interlagos)

November 27: Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)