FIA confirms that Korean GP dropped from 2015 F1 calendar

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone caused a surprise in December when he added the South Korean event on to the 2015 schedule at the last minute, pushing the number of races up to 21.

Although there were some suggestions this was done as a means of handing F1 manufacturers an extra power unit, Ecclestone said at the time that he had only done so for contractual reasons.

With Korean organisers having expressed surprised at having its grand prix back, and not keen on the event happening, the Yeongam event has now quietly slipped off the schedule.

In a final calendar published on the FIA's website, it confirms that there will now only be 20 races - with Korea having failed to make it.

An FIA spokesman told AUTOSPORT: "The Commercial Rights holder proposed, as is his right, for the Korean Grand Prix to take place as there was a possibility for it to be included in 2015.

"The FIA accepted this, subject to confirmation. However, the possibility of the race happening disappeared and it has now been removed from the official calendar."

The absence of Korea means there is now a three-week gap between the Bahrain and Spanish Grands Prix.

2015 Formula 1 calendar

March 15 Australian GP
March 29 Malaysian GP
April 12 Chinese GP
April 19 Bahrain GP
May 10 Spanish GP
May 24 Monaco GP
June 7 Canadian GP
June 21 Austrian GP
July 5 British GP
July 19 German GP
July 26 Hungarian GP
August 23 Belgian GP
September 6 Italian GP
September 20 Singapore GP
September 27 Japanese GP
October 11 Russian GP
October 25 USA GP
November 1 Mexican GP
November 15 Brazilian GP
November 29 Abu Dhabi GP