2002 F1 calendar is bogus

Even though provisional dates for next year's world championship won't be announced until the next meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on October 3, a calendar has appeared this week. The dates and order of races are similar to this year's series.

But an FIA statement read: "A draft calendar is not yet ready for submission to the Formula 1 Commission, still less to the World Motor Sport Council."

The calendar that has done the rounds this week includes the British Grand Prix, with a July 7 date. The race has been put under doubt because of the traffic problems that continue to blight Silverstone, and an independent inquiry has been launched in an attempt to find a solution.

When the real calendar appears on October 3, the British GP is expected to appear, but with a provisional status pending the FIA's satisfaction that the traffic problems will be improved for 2002.

Next year's line-up could be cut down to only 16 races from 17 this year, at the expense of a European round, possibly San Marino. It is thought that more widespread changes will then take place in 2003, which could include GPs in Moscow and Beirut.