South Korea returns to F1 calendar, double points binned
Thursday, 4 December 2014 01:18
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Reuters: Formula One scrapped its unloved double points experiment on Wednesday while provisionally reinstating the South Korean Grand Prix to a 2015 calendar bulging with a record 21 races.
The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) listed Korea as the fifth round of the season on May 3, with the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona scheduled for the following weekend.
Korea’s return after being dropped in 2014 was a surprise. The tight turnaround, and the teams’ previous reluctance to have more than 20 races, immediately raised doubts about the likelihood of it happening.
The season will start in Australia on March 15.
Mexico will also return to the calendar after a 23-year absence, with a race scheduled for Nov. 1 in Mexico City.
China becomes the third race of the season on April 12, taking the slot initially assigned to Bahrain on a previous draft. Bahrain is now on April 19.
Changes to the sporting regulations included the decision to abandon the controversial experiment with double points introduced this year for the final race in Abu Dhabi.
The format was unpopular with fans and risked making a mockery of the season, with eventual champion Lewis Hamilton in danger of losing out to Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg despite winning 10 races to the German’s five.
A plan to introduce standing re-starts after the introduction of a safety car was also jettisoned after teams raised safety concerns, but a ‘virtual safety car’ system was agreed.
