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 The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said it had approved a
schedule with a record 21 races and just one change from the
previous one, the new version pairing Mexico with Texas instead of
Brazil.
The race in Austin, scheduled for Oct. 23, is subject to agreement
with the promoter and national sporting authority.
Mexico was brought forward from Nov. 6 to Oct. 30.
That change had been sought by Mexican organizers, whose grand prix
returned to the calendar this season after a 23-year absence and
drew a crowd of 135,000 on race days.
The earlier date means it will again be just before the national Day
of the Dead holidays.
This year's U.S. Grand Prix at Austin's Circuit of the Americas was
hit by torrential rain and suffered a further financial setback when
news emerged of a reduction in the subsidy paid by Texas state
authorities.
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone expressed concern for the
future of the race last month after reports the subsidies were being
reduced by more than 20 percent to around $19.5 million.
"If it's changed, it's going to be difficult to continue the race in
Austin," he had told the Austin American-Statesman.
"To use a technical term, I think we're screwed," Circuit of the
Americas chairman Bobby Epstein, who has to pay Ecclestone a
significant annual sum in race hosting fees, had told the same
newspaper.
"The big question now is: 'Is the race coming back'."
The Austin circuit is Formula One's first purpose-built track in the
United States and has hosted a grand prix since 2012.
Official calendar:
March 20 - Australia (Melbourne)
April 3 - Bahrain
April 17 - China (Shanghai)
May 1 - Russia (Sochi)
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May 15 - Spain (Barcelona)
May 29 - Monaco
June 12 - Canada (Montreal)
June 19 - Azerbaijan (Baku)
July 3 - Austria (Spielberg)
July 10 - Britain (Silverstone)
July 14 - Hungary (Budapest)
July 31 - Germany (Hockenheim)
Aug 28 - Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
Sept. 4 - Italy (Monza)
Sept. 18 - Singapore
Oct. 2 - Malaysia (Sepang)
Oct. 9 - Japan (Suzuka)
*Oct. 23 - United States (Austin)
Oct. 30 - Mexico (Mexico City)
Nov. 13 - Brazil (Sao Paulo)
Nov. 27 - Abu Dhabi
*Subject to agreement
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
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