Abu Dhabi set to get finale slot in 2014 Formula 1 calendar rejig

Although a provisional 22-race schedule was published by the FIA earlier this year, it is understood that several changes are being planned ahead of the calendar being finalised next month.

It had already become clear that neither New Jersey nor Mexico would remain on the schedule, and sources suggest that Ecclestone has also informed teams that Korea will also be absent. This will leave 19 races.

To accommodate the changes, Ecclestone has said that there will be a shuffling of dates - especially at the tail end of the season - which will result in Brazil losing its slot as the season finale.

Moving Abu Dhabi to the end of the season also means that teams can stay on afterwards for post-season testing.

It is also understood that despite calls from some teams for Ecclestone to move the Malaysian Grand Prix forward a week so it ran back-to-back with Australia - which is better for cost reasons - this has not happened.

The final 2014 F1 calendar will be finalised at the FIA's World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris on December 6.

How the 2014 calendar could look:

March 16      Australia
March 30      Malaysia
April 6       Bahrain
April 20      China
May 11        Spain
May 25        Monaco
June 8        Canada
June 22       Austria
July 6        Great Britain
July 20       Germany (Hockenheim)
July 27       Hungary
August 24     Belgium
September 7   Italy
September 21  Singapore
October 5     Japan
October 12    Russia
October 26    USA
November 2    Brazil
November 16   Abu Dhabi