FIA confirmed the F1 calendar for 2018

The sport's governing body, the FIA confirmed the calendar for the 2018 Formula One World Championship season which will feature a record number of 21 Grand Prix weekends just as the 2016 season did.

The Commercial Rights Holders Liberty Media has been pushing to expand the Formula One calendar to improve the brand, increase the revenue by bringing the Moving Circus to new territories. However, teams are resisting and they intend to keep the current number of races. They argue that crossing the border of 20/21 races would force them to employ two race teams which would result in a huge increase in cost.

Formula One which started its history in 1950 with the inaugural British Grand Prix featured 7 races in its first year. 1958 saw a big leap when 11 races were held. In 1977 when Niki Lauda was crowned for the second time driving for Ferrari, saw the next big leap with 17 championship rounds. 2012 saw the calendar expanding to 20 races. The current record of 21 Grand Prix during a single season was achieved in 2016. 2017 should feature 21 rounds again.

The French GP will return on the calendar next year. The purpose-built Le Castellet track which has been serving as a test circuit for Formula One and race track for lower categories will host the 59th French Grand Prix. The Azerbaijan GP was moved forward, it will be the fourth round of the year.

The Russian GP will be held in the last third part of the season as during its first years.

Formula One will feature its first triple header races in 2018. However, F1’s sporting boss Ross Brawn admitted it was only a countermeasure because oft he football world cup.

"We could only solve that by having three races in a row but it’s not something we want to repeat in the future. It was an emergency measure," Brawn said.

The Grand Prix of the United Arab Emirates will close the championship again in Abu Dhabi.