Mexico Provisionally Added to 2014 F1 Calendar

Formula 1 have revealed their draft calendar for the 2014 season with Mexico City set to host a race for the first time since 1992 while New Jersey, whose debut was postponed this season, is again absent from a draft 21-race calendar sent to teams and broadcasters.

The governing body, International Automobile Federation (FIA), has to approve the calendar at a world motorsport council meeting in Croatia later this month but if approved than the calendar will be biggest yet.

The previous record is 20, with 19 held this year, and most of the teams are reluctant to go above that number because of the stresses imposed on personnel such as engineers and mechanics.

Mexico, a new grand prix in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi and South Korea all have asterisks against their slots indicating they are subject to contract and track approval by the governing body.

India has been dropped as previously announced, with hopes for a comeback in 2015, while Austria is due to make a return after an 11-year break with a race at Spielberg on June 22.

Mexico’s absence has been even longer, with the last Formula One race held at the capital’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in 1992 and won by Britain’s Nigel Mansell.

The country currently has two Formula One drivers in McLaren’s Sergio Perez and Sauber’s Esteban Gutierrez and has been pushing hard to get back on the calendar for some years.

The race would be the first leg of a double-header with the U.S. Grand Prix held in Austin, Texas, with the races on November 9 and 16 before the finale in Brazil.

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