It has been revealed that The Turkish Grand Prix has been removed from the 2012 Formula 1 World Championship after the FIA published next season’s calendar.

There is no room on the 20 race calendar for the event which has been a fixture since 2005, confirming rumours it would be dropped after it had been omitted from a provisional calendar published earlier this year.

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone hinted earlier this summer that the race could be dropped amid rumours that the race promoters were unable to afford to keep the race at the Istanbul Park track after a string of low attendances.

Also in the revised calendar, the Bahrain Grand Prix which had to be cancelled this season because of civil unrest in the country, will take place in April, a change from its usual season opening slot.

The race had been lined up for an October slot, but with organisers of the Indian Grand Prix complaining that the April date it had appeared to have been given would coincide with the hottest part of the year in the country,  the two have been switched, with the Indian race occupying the October slot it will do this season.

Australia will kick off the 2012 season while the Brazil race will be the last of the season once more, with the US Grand Prix back on the calendar for the first time since 2007.

2012 Formula 1 Calender:

18 March - Australia (Melbourne)

25 March - Malaysia (Sepang)

15 April - China (Shanghai)

22 April - Bahrain (Sakhir)

13 May - Spain (Barcelona)

27 May - Monaco (Monte Carlo)

10 June - Canada (Montreal)

24 June - Europe (Valencia)

8 July - Britain (Silverstone)

22 July - Germany (Hockenheim)

29 July - Hungary (Hungaroring)

2 September - Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)

9 September - Italy (Monza)

23 September - Singapore (Marina Bay)

7 October - Japan (Suzuka)

14 October - Korea (Yeongam)

28 October - India (New Delhi)

4 November - Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)

18 November - United States (Austin)

25 November - Brazil (Interlagos)

For all the reaction to last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, click here. You can also read our Top Five conclusions from Vettel’s win.

Why not check out our video and gallery sections of the site? The gallery includes everything from a review of the season so far to the best pictures of Jenson Button’s girlfriend Jessica Michibata .

You can also join in the post-race debate on Twitter and Facebook.

Related posts: