The 2025 Australian Grand Prix will be the Formula One season-opener for the first time in six years instead of Bahrain after the sport's governing body (FIA) released next year's calendar on Friday.

The 24-race season will commence on March 16 in Melbourne and end on Dec. 7 in Abu Dhabi as Formula One celebrates the 75th anniversary of its world championship.

The Bahrain Grand Prix has been the opening race of the season since 2021 while the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has been the second race on the calendar since 2022.

Formula One did not race at Melbourne's Albert Park Circuit in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but will now host the opening race instead of the Middle Eastern kingdom due to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan falling in March next year.

The first European race will take place in Imola in May as part of a triple header which also includes Monaco and Spain in back-to-back weekends.

"We're grateful to the FIA, our promoters, host city partners, and all the related ASNs for their commitment and support in delivering this schedule and securing what promises to be another fantastic year for Formula 1," Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said in a statement.

"I would also like to pay tribute to our F1 teams and drivers, the heroes of our sport, and our fans around the world for continuing to follow Formula 1 with such incredible enthusiasm."

The testing schedule and the sprint calendar are set to be announced at a later date.

The current season has sprints at six Grands Prix -- China, Miami, Austria, United States (Austin), Brazil and Qatar.

<h2>FORMULA ONE 2025 CALENDAR -</h2>

<ul>
	<li>March 14-16: Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne</li>
	<li>March 21-23: Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai</li>
	<li>April 4-6: Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka</li>
	<li>April 11-13: Bahrain Grand Prix - Sakhir</li>
	<li>April 18-20: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Jeddah</li>
	<li>May 2-4: Miami Grand Prix - Florida</li>
	<li>May 16-18: Emilia Romagna - Imola</li>
	<li>May 23-25: Monaco Grand Prix - Monaco</li>
	<li>May 30–June 1: Spanish Grand Prix - Barcelona</li>
	<li>June 13-15: Canadian Grand Prix - Montreal</li>
	<li>June 27-29: Austrian Grand Prix - Spielberg</li>
	<li>July 4-6: Britigh Grand Prix - Silverstone</li>
	<li>July 25-27: Belgian Grand Prix - Spa</li>
	<li>Aug. 1-3: Hungarian Grand Prix - Budapest</li>
	<li>Aug. 29-31: Dutch Grand Prix - Zandvoort</li>
	<li>Sept. 5-7: Italian Grand Prix - Monza</li>
	<li>Sept. 19-21: Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Baku</li>
	<li>Oct. 3-5: Singapore Grand Prix - Singapore</li>
	<li>Oct. 17-19: United States Grand Prix - Austin</li>
	<li>Oct. 24-26: Mexican Grand Prix - Mexico City</li>
	<li>Nov. 7-9: Brazil Grand Prix - Sao Paulo</li>
	<li>Nov. 20-22: Las Vegas Grand Prix - Las Vegas</li>
	<li>Nov. 28-30: Qatar Grand Prix - Lusail</li>
	<li>Dec. 5-7: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina</li>
</ul>

The 2025 Australian Grand Prix will be the Formula One season-opener for the first time in six years instead of Bahrain after the sport's governing body (FIA) released next year's calendar on Friday.

The 2025 Australian Grand Prix will be the Formula One season-opener for the first time in six years instead of Bahrain after the sport's governing body (FIA) released next year's calendar on Friday. The 24-race season will commence on March 16 in Melbourne and end on Dec. 7 in Abu Dhabi as Formula One celebrates the 75th anniversary of its world championship. The Bahrain Grand Prix has been the opening race of the season since 2021 while the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has been the second race on the calendar since 2022. Formula One did not race at Melbourne's Albert Park Circuit in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but will now host the opening race instead of the Middle Eastern kingdom due to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan falling in March next year. The first European race will take place in Imola in May as part of a triple header which also includes Monaco and Spain in back-to-back weekends. "We're grateful to the FIA, our promoters, host city partners, and all the related ASNs for their commitment and support in delivering this schedule and securing what promises to be another fantastic year for Formula 1," Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said in a statement. "I would also like to pay tribute to our F1 teams and drivers, the heroes of our sport, and our fans around the world for continuing to follow Formula 1 with such incredible enthusiasm." The testing schedule and the sprint calendar are set to be announced at a later date. The current season has sprints at six Grands Prix -- China, Miami, Austria, United States (Austin), Brazil and Qatar. FORMULA ONE 2025 CALENDAR - March 14-16: Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne March 21-23: Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai April 4-6: Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka April 11-13: Bahrain Grand Prix - Sakhir April 18-20: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Jeddah May 2-4: Miami Grand Prix - Florida May 16-18: Emilia Romagna - Imola May 23-25: Monaco Grand Prix - Monaco May 30–June 1: Spanish Grand Prix - Barcelona June 13-15: Canadian Grand Prix - Montreal June 27-29: Austrian Grand Prix - Spielberg July 4-6: Britigh Grand Prix - Silverstone July 25-27: Belgian Grand Prix - Spa Aug. 1-3: Hungarian Grand Prix - Budapest Aug. 29-31: Dutch Grand Prix - Zandvoort Sept. 5-7: Italian Grand Prix - Monza Sept. 19-21: Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Baku Oct. 3-5: Singapore Grand Prix - Singapore Oct. 17-19: United States Grand Prix - Austin Oct. 24-26: Mexican Grand Prix - Mexico City Nov. 7-9: Brazil Grand Prix - Sao Paulo Nov. 20-22: Las Vegas Grand Prix - Las Vegas Nov. 28-30: Qatar Grand Prix - Lusail Dec. 5-7: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina

Formula 1: Australia, not Bahrain, to hold 2025 season opener as FIA releases next year’s calendar

Formula One boss Chase Carey on Monday targeted the coronavirus-hit season eventually starting in Austria on July 5 after the French Grand Prix was cancelled and fans barred from the British race at Silverstone.

The French Grand Prix, which was to have been held on June 28, was the tenth race of the season to be scrapped or postponed.

"We’re targeting a start to racing in Europe through July, August and beginning of September, with the first race taking place in Austria on 3-5 July weekend," Carey said in a statement.

"September, October and November, would see us race in Eurasia, Asia and the Americas, finishing the season in the Gulf in December with Bahrain before the traditional finale in Abu Dhabi, having completed between 15-18 races."

Carey's statement followed quickfire announcements from the French organisers and a statement from the owners of the Silverstone track where the British Grand Prix is due to take place on July 19.

"Given the evolution of the situation linked to the spread of the Covid-19 virus, the French Grand Prix takes note of the decisions announced by the French state, making it impossible to maintain our event," the race's managing director Eric Boullier said.

It joins nine other races in the decimated 2020 championship to be either cancelled (Australia, Monaco) or postponed (Bahrain, China, Vietnam, Netherlands, Spain, Azerbaijan, Canada).

Organisers of the race at Le Castellet were forced to act after President Emmanuel Macron's announcement last week that the lockdown in France will be extended until May 11 and public gatherings banned until mid-July.

Ruling out holding the race behind closed doors, Boullier said: "Le Castellet are already turning towards the summer of 2021".

<h2>- 'Races without fans' -</h2>

In a series of coordinated announcements, Silverstone's owners then announced that no spectators would be able to attend the British Grand Prix but that they hope it will go ahead as scheduled.

"I am extremely disappointed to tell you that we are unable to stage this year's British Grand Prix in front of the fans at Silverstone," the circuit's managing director Stuart Pringle stated on Silverstone's Twitter account.

"We have left this difficult decision for as long as possible, but it is abundantly clear given the current conditions... that a grand prix under normal conditions is just not going to be possible."

F1 supremo Carey said he expected "the early races to be without fans" but hoped that spectators would be allowed back "as we move further into the schedule".

He added: "We still have to work out many issues like the procedures for the teams and our other partners to enter and operate in each country.

"The health and safety of all involved will continue to be priority one and we will only go forward if we are confident we have reliable procedures to address both risks and possible issues."

Formula One boss Chase Carey on Monday targeted the coronavirus-hit season eventually starting in Austria on July 5 after the French Grand Prix was cancelled and fans barred from the British race at Silverstone.

Formula One boss Chase Carey on Monday targeted the coronavirus-hit season eventually starting in Austria on July 5 after the French Grand Prix was cancelled and fans barred from the British race at Silverstone. The French Grand Prix, which was to have been held on June 28, was the tenth race of the season to be scrapped or postponed. "We’re targeting a start to racing in Europe through July, August and beginning of September, with the first race taking place in Austria on 3-5 July weekend," Carey said in a statement. "September, October and November, would see us race in Eurasia, Asia and the Americas, finishing the season in the Gulf in December with Bahrain before the traditional finale in Abu Dhabi, having completed between 15-18 races." Carey's statement followed quickfire announcements from the French organisers and a statement from the owners of the Silverstone track where the British Grand Prix is due to take place on July 19. "Given the evolution of the situation linked to the spread of the Covid-19 virus, the French Grand Prix takes note of the decisions announced by the French state, making it impossible to maintain our event," the race's managing director Eric Boullier said. It joins nine other races in the decimated 2020 championship to be either cancelled (Australia, Monaco) or postponed (Bahrain, China, Vietnam, Netherlands, Spain, Azerbaijan, Canada). Organisers of the race at Le Castellet were forced to act after President Emmanuel Macron's announcement last week that the lockdown in France will be extended until May 11 and public gatherings banned until mid-July. Ruling out holding the race behind closed doors, Boullier said: "Le Castellet are already turning towards the summer of 2021". - 'Races without fans' - In a series of coordinated announcements, Silverstone's owners then announced that no spectators would be able to attend the British Grand Prix but that they hope it will go ahead as scheduled. "I am extremely disappointed to tell you that we are unable to stage this year's British Grand Prix in front of the fans at Silverstone," the circuit's managing director Stuart Pringle stated on Silverstone's Twitter account. "We have left this difficult decision for as long as possible, but it is abundantly clear given the current conditions... that a grand prix under normal conditions is just not going to be possible." F1 supremo Carey said he expected "the early races to be without fans" but hoped that spectators would be allowed back "as we move further into the schedule". He added: "We still have to work out many issues like the procedures for the teams and our other partners to enter and operate in each country. "The health and safety of all involved will continue to be priority one and we will only go forward if we are confident we have reliable procedures to address both risks and possible issues."

F1 season set for Austria start as French Grand Prix cancelled

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Formula 1: Australia, not Bahrain, to hold 2025 season opener as FIA releases next year’s calendar

F1 season set for Austria start as French Grand Prix cancelled