The 2014 Formula One calendar has been slashed by three grands prix due to problems surrounding venues in New Jersey, Mexico and South Korea, the FIA has confirmed.
From an initial record-breaking schedule of 22 races when the provisional calendar was aired in late September, there will now be 19 following official confirmation of the programme by the World Motor Sport Council after a meeting in Paris.
The news will come as a relief to the 11 teams as even the likes of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner described the prospect of 22 grands prix as “beyond the limit”.
In particular, the teams were threatened with an unprecedented triple-header at the end of May and into June, with Monaco, New Jersey and Canada all back-to-back.
The suspicion, however, was that due to ongoing financial issues the Grand Prix of America would again fall by the wayside, and so it has proven.
The race, with the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop, was slated for its debut this year, only to be withdrawn due to the financing problems.
Although F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone came to the aid of promoter Leo Hindery, and a 15-year contract was signed in June, the event has had to be shelved again.
Claiming the race has been cancelled again “for lots and lots and lots of reasons”, Ecclestone has not given up hope, telling the Wall Street Journal: “What we’re aiming for is 2015.”
Mexico was due to end a 22-year exile from the calendar, but the redevelopment of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is to take longer than expected.
The South Korea organisers have long faced financial difficulties since the race was first staged in 2010, and it is understoodthey failed to reach a renewed agreement with Ecclestone.