2010 calendar shaping up

[jab]

From Dieter Rencken's latest Grapevine article (subscription only)

Originally Posted by Dieter Rencken

Canada, too, seems to be back on track, although, say sources, not in Montreal. Could the race be returning to Mont-Tremblant, that picturesque circuit, scene of the 1968/70 Canadian Grands Prix, nestling in the gorgeous Laurentian Mountains approximately an hour's drive north-west of Quebec's capital?

Rencken's potential calendar
1) 28 March - Australia
2) 4 April - Malaysia
3) 18 April - China - thought to be the last race unless the CRH strikes a deal with Beijing
4) 25 April - Bahrain
5) 16 May - Spain - with, allegedly, an official test session in Spain preceding the race
6) 30 May - Monaco
7) 13 June - Turkey
8) 27 June - Canada - Mont-Tremblant?
9) 11 July - Britain - possibly followed by a week-long test session if Silverstone
10) 25 July - Germany - if...
11) 1 August - Hungary - subject to Calendar Commission permission as it falls within August
12) 22 August - Belgium
13) 5 September - Europe
14) 12 September - Italy
15) 26 September - Singapore
16) 3 October - Japan
17) 17 October - Brazil
18) 31 October - Abu Dhabi

CRH - Commercial Rights Holder (i.e. CVC/Bernard)

Well I don't make this stuff up. Seems a wacky rumour given the state Mont Tremblant is in but anything can happen in F1 and it usually does...

In the full article, there are other details on what the teams have to approve on the calendar:

Originally Posted by Dieter Rencken

Other sources have indicated that the CRH can schedule 17 or less races without reference to the teams, provided no less than six come from an 'A' list containing a mix of traditional events, 'blue-chips' and at least one Middle East event.

Teams would, though, need to grant permission for the CRH to go beyond 17 races, with 20 being the absolute limit. No more than 50% of races on any calendar can be 'non-European' - falling outside Europe and, strangely, North America - while all events are ranked according to their successive durations in previous FIA championships in order to prevent (past) farcical situations whereby, say, France was ranked as 'newcomer' (thus saving the CRH on travel benefits) while China was not...