Analysis: Grands Prix Faced with Last Minute Change

The European, United States and Chinese Grand Prix have appeared as pending confirmation on the provisional 2005 calendar due to a last minute change of their original dates.

Atlas F1's The Weekly Grapevine reveals that the Nurburgring, host of the European Grand Prix, has already agreed to a date of April 24th - originally planned to run one week after the San Marino Grand Prix.

But the provisional calendar approved by the World Council today has instead the Imola race held on April 24th and the French Grand Prix - normally held in July - running a week before, on April 17th.

The Nurburgring race is now expected to be held on May 29th - a week after the Monaco Grand Prix - assuming the race organisers can accommodate to the new date.

Likewise, the US Grand Prix was originally planned for either June 12th or June 26th and due to the change in the provisional calendar, would now have to agree to a June 19th slot.

The Chinese Grand Prix's date also remains unclear, as Bernie Ecclestone would like to hold it on October 16th, one week after the Japanese Grand Prix, as opposed to its original date of the last Sunday in September.

For more details on the provisional 2005 calendar and a possible solution for the expanding calendar, read this week's The Weekly Grapevine