The 2014 Formula One calendar has been reduced by three grands prix due to problems surrounding venues in New Jersey, Mexico and South Korea, the FIA has confirmed.
From an initial record-breaking schedule of 22 races when the provisional calendar was aired in late September, there will now be 19 following official confirmation of the programme by the World Motor Sport Council after a meeting in Paris.
The news will come as a relief to the 11 teams as even the likes of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner described the prospect of 22 grands prix as beyond the limit.
In particular, the teams were threatened with an unprecedented triple-header of races at the end of May and into early June, with Monaco, New Jersey and Canada all back-to-back.
The suspicion, however, was that due to ongoing financial issues the Grand Prix of America would again fall by the wayside, and so it has proven. The race, along the banks of the Hudson River and with the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop, was slated for its debut this year, only to be withdrawn due to the financing problems.
Although F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone came to the aid of promoter Leo Hindery, jun and a 15-year contract was signed in June, for the second successive season the event has had to be shelved. Claiming the race has been cancelled again “for lots and lots and lots of reasons”, Ecclestone has not given up hope and said: “What we’re aiming for is 2015.”
Mexico was due to end a 22-year exile from the calendar but the redevelopment of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is to take longer than expected. Sergio Perez, set to be confirmed as a Force India driver, has confirmed the organisers ran out of time.