The 20-race 2017 Formula One calendar has been confirmed, with Baku moved back a week to avoid clashing with Le Mans and the German Grand Prix gone altogether.
As reported during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, Hockenheim's place on the calendar has gone after circuit chiefs failed to reach an agreement with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone. It means Germany once again has no F1 race -- as was the case in 2015 -- despite the fact Nico Rosberg and Mercedes will be defending their respective titles in 2017.
The Baku street race -- renamed the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after bizarrely joining the calendar this year as the Grand Prix of Europe -- has been pushed back a week to avoid clashing with the Le Mans 24 Hours again. It will now take place on June 25, avoiding the logistical nightmare of 2016 which saw it go back-to-back with Canada.
That Le Mans clash this year meant Nico Hulkenberg was unable to defend the title he won with Porsche in 2015, when Force India allowed him to compete in two World Endurance Championship events alongside his F1 commitments.
The Austrian Grand Prix and British Grand Prix remain back-to-back but have both shifted one week back, meaning the latter clashes with Formula E's New York race and the men's tennis final at Wimbleon. Germany's disappearance from the calendar means Hungary moves back a week to July 30, which is then followed by the traditional four-week break. That ends with the Belgium-Italy double header at the end of August and start of September.
Singapore has remained in the same place as 2016, between Italy and Malaysia, despite being listed as the first race of a back-to-back with Japan in the provisional calendar released earlier this year.
Canada and Brazil, which had been listed as provisional in that original calendar, are now both set to go ahead as originally scheduled.
The calendar in full:
March 26, Melbourne, Australia
April 9, Shanghai, China
April 16, Sakhir, Bahrain
April 30, Sochi, Russia
May 14, Barcelona, Spain
May 28, Monte Carlo, Monaco
June 11, Montreal, Canada
June 25, Baku, Azerbaijan
July 9, Spielberg, Austria
July 16, Silverstone, Great Britain
July 30, Budapest, Hungary
August 27, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
September 3, Monza, Italy
September 17, Marina Bay, Singapore
October 1, Sepang, Malaysia
October 8, Suzuka, Japan
October 22, Austin, USA
October 29, Mexico City, Mexico
November 12, Sao Paulo, Brazil*
November 26, Abu Dhabi, UAE
*Subject to confirmation