Ecclestone still tweaking 2010 calendar

As AUTOSPORT revealed earlier this week, Bahrain is now being seriously considered as the season opener, with its March 14 date appearing to be the preferred way to start the campaign.

Of other interest in the latest draft version of the calendar, Canada has been given a slot on June 6, with the Chinese Grand Prix being moved from the April date it occupied this year to September.

The event in Shanghai is currently scheduled to line up as a back-to-back event with the Singapore Grand Prix, although AUTOSPORT understands that Ecclestone is considering the possibility of twinning Singapore with Japan instead, or even changing the order of the three races so China and Japan can be moved together.

The title of the race at Valencia in June has also been left open, with it possible it could use the Mediterranean moniker so as to free up the Europe title for Silverstone, if Donington Park is unable to host the British event.

Here is the latest version of the 2010 F1 calendar, which will likely be further tweaked before it is presented to the FIA's World Motor Sport Council later this year.

March 14        Bahrain (Sakhir)
March 28        Australia (Melbourne)
April 4         Malaysia (Sepang)
April 25        Turkey (Istanbul)
May 9           Spain (Barcelona)
May 23          Monaco (Monte Carlo)
June 6          Canada (Montreal)
June 27         Europe/Mediterranean (Valencia)
July 11         Britain (Donington Park) or Europe (Silverstone)
July 25         Germany (Hockenheim)
August 1        Hungary (Hungaroring)
August 22       Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
September 5     Italy (Monza)
September 19    Singapore (Singapore)
September 26    China (Shanghai)
October 10      Japan (Suzuka)
October 24      Brazil (Interlagos)
November 7      Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)