F1 News: Australian Grand Prix 2016 receives new date

The 2016 Formula One (F1) season-opening race at Albert Park received a new date amidst a reshuffle of the provisional 2016 F1 calendar. The Australian Grand Prix will take place from March 17 to 20, 2016, two weeks earlier than the date set initially.

The World Motor Sport Council announced the revised schedule on Federation Internationale de l'Automobile’s official website. The race will remain the first race of the season.

“We’re pleased by the revised date,” Sport, Tourism, and Major Events Minister John Eren said on Thursday. “It will mean local clubs in Albert Park are less affected than what they otherwise may have been during the sporting season.

Australia has been set on April 3 according to the original calendar leaked back in July. With the change of date, ticketholders are offered refunds if they wouldn’t be able to make it.

Meanwhile, Bahrain has taken the original date set for the Australian Grand Prix on April 3. The Chinese Grand Prix will still be the third race taking place two weeks after the Bahrain Grand Prix on April 17.

The new revised 2016 F1 Calendar will feature 21 races including the inaugural event in Azerbaijan, which will prevent F1 drivers from participating in the Le Mans 24 Hours. Some of the notable changes include the new date for Malaysian Grand Prix, which moves to Oct. 2 alongside the Japanese Grand Prix on Oct. 9 and the US Grand Prix on Oct. 23. Abu Dhabi will remain as the season-ending race taking place on Nov. 27.

Updated Provisional Calendar for the 2016 F1 Season

Australian Grand Prix: March 20

Bahrain Grand Prix: April 3

Chinese Grand Prix: April 17

Russian Grand Prix: May 1

Spanish Grand Prix: May 15

Monaco Grand Prix: May 29

Canadian Grand Prix: June 12

Baku European Grand Prix: June 19

Austrian Grand Prix: July 3

British Grand Prix: July 10

Hungarian Grand Prix: July 24