FIA declares 2010 F1 schedule, S Korea to debut

South Korea will make its Formula One debut in October next year while Canada will return to the calendar subject to contract negotiations, the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said on Monday.The season, expanded to a record-equaling 19 races for the first time since 2005.It will start at Bahrain's Sakhir circuit on March 14. 

Australia, the regular opener since 1996 apart from in 2006 when a clash with the Commonwealth Games pushed the race back to the third slot, becomes the second round on March 28 with Malaysia following a week later. 

Canada, dropped this year, has been penciled in for a return on June 13 while South Korea comes in for the first time on October 17 as planned. The championship ends in Brazil on Nov. 14. 

The FIA said the Turkish Grand Prix in Istanbul, which suffered a poor turnout this year, would be moved from May 30 to Canada's slot if contract negotiations with the Montreal organisers are not completed. 

The races in Australia and Abu Dhabi will start at 1700 local time, Malaysia at 1600 local and Singapore at 2000.Britain was given a July 11 slot, with no circuit mentioned. Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has said Silverstone will host it if Donington Park is not ready. 

France was again absent after dropping off this year for financial reasons.Teams will also have a longer break in August between Hungary (Aug 1) and Belgium (Aug 29). 
  
   Calendar:   
   March 14 - Bahrain 
   March 28 - Australia 
   April 4 - Malaysia 
   April 18 - China 
   May 9 - Spain 
   May 23 - Monaco 
   May 30 - Turkey 
   June 13 - Canada* 
   June 27 - Europe (Valencia) 
   July 11 - Britain 
   July 25 - Germany 
   Aug 1 - Hungary 
   Aug 29 - Belgium 
   Sept 12 - Italy 
   Sept 26 - Singapore 
   Oct 3 - Japan 
   Oct 17 - South Korea 
   Oct 31 - Abu Dhabi 
   Nov 14 - Brazil