F1 set for December '16 Malaysian finale

ByAutoSport

Published 04/09/2015 at 12:04 GMT

The 2016 Formula 1 calendar is to now stretch into December, with Malaysia hosting the finale, as teams push for further changes to protect a summer break.

Eurosport

Image credit: Eurosport

At present a record-breaking 21-grands prix schedule is condensed into just eight months, due to a later-than-usual start in Australia on April 3, with Abu Dhabi hosting the finale again on November 27.

However, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed to AUTOSPORT that following a request from the race organisers in Singapore, the Malaysian Grand Prix will revert to either December 4 or 11.

Singapore and Malaysia were originally due to run back to back on September 18 and 25, but due to their geographical proximity, the concern is one event will detract from the other.

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"We're putting Malaysia later on, into December, away from Singapore," Ecclestone told AUTOSPORT.

"The Malaysians were happy, but the Singaporeans weren't, so we decided to look into it.

"At this stage I don't think we'll need to change anything else."

However, there may yet be further alterations, with teams expressing worries about a shorter summer break to Ecclestone.

In recent years there has been a four-week gap between the Hungarian and Belgian GPs, allowing the teams to adhere to regulations whereby there must be a complete two-week factory shutdown during that period.

For 2016, however, there is only a three-week interval, putting considerable strain on all race-attending staff, and making the shutdown almost impossible to work around.

One possible solution would be to push the Belgian, Italian and Singapore races back by one week each, to September 4, 11 and 25.

"It's absolutely critical for Formula 1 we keep the integrity of the summer break and shutdown, especially for the independent teams with one travelling crew," Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley told AUTOSPORT.

"If we have a season that doesn't include a shutdown then we are going to have to employ more people to be able to do that, and that's going to be very costly and very disruptive from our point of view.

"It's up to the commercial rights holder [Ecclestone] and the FIA to work around a summer break.

"The key thing for me is, put the summer break in, and then work out from it. Don't do it the other way around.

"What we have today has served Formula 1 phenomenally well. It has done a great job for our travelling crew, whose welfare you have to think of, and their families."

Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams has confirmed the subject due to be broached at the next Strategy Group meeting.

"It does worry us and is something we'll be putting on the agenda for the Strategy Group," said Williams.

"Not having that shutdown is a concern. It's so important for everybody within Formula 1 they have that break, so we'll be lobbying to reinstate it.

"Not sure what can be done. It's up to Bernie. I still think Mr E is in conversations with various promoters of some of those races on the calendar which may enable a little bit of flexibility."

LIKELY 2016 F1 CALENDAR CHANGE

April 3 - Australia 

April 10 - China 

April 24 - Bahrain 

May 1 - Russia 

May 15 - Spain 

May 29 - Monaco

 June 12 - Canada 

June 26 - Britain 

July 3 - Austria 

July 17 - Europe (Baku) 

July 31 - Germany