The World Motor Sport Council approved the 2005 FIA F1 World Championship calendar in Monaco today (10 December 2004).  Next year sees a 19th race added to the season with the inaugural Turkish Grand Prix on 21 August, following F1's now traditional August three week break and testing ban.   The British Grand Prix retains a July date although it has moved to 10 July from the provisionally announced date to avoid a clash with the Wimbledon tennis final.

A second three week break remains between Bahrain and San Marino, separating the early season 'flyaways' from the European season, as it did in 2004.  However the hecticness of six sets of 'back-to-back' races paired a week apart will more than make up for the breaks, with team's logistics teams already working on the challenge of  eight races in the ten weeks between 22 May and 31 July.  Two long-distance back-to-backs will also test the team's logisitical skills and agility at stripping and rebuilding their race cars, with Canada and United States and also Japan and China holding Grands Prix just a week apart.