'The maximum number of Events in the Championship is 20, the minimum is 8' say newly published FIA Sporting Regulations
Wednesday 14 October 2015 15:56, UK
The 2016 F1 calendar has been thrown into doubt after the FIA's published the F1 sporting regulations for next year.
Although 21 races have been listed on the provisional calendar, Article 5.4 of the 2016 Formula 1 Sporting Regulations states 'the maximum number of Events in the Championship is 20, the minimum is 8'.
The 19 races of 2015 will be bolstered next year by the return of the German GP and a new race around the streets of Baku in Azerbaijan dubbed the European GP.
The latest provisional schedule issued by the World Motorsport Council earlier in October sees the season start in Australia on March 20, concluding in Abu Dhabi on November 27.
The regulations say a final calendar will be published by the FIA before January 1, 2016.
The rules do make provision for in-season testing in 2016, stating that two, two day team tests can take place following an event at a European track.
Updated provisional 2016 F1 calendar
March 20: Australian GP
April 3: Bahrain GP
April 17: Chinese GP
May 1: Russian GP
May 15: Spanish GP
May 29: Monaco GP
June 12: Canadian GP
June 19: European GP (Azerbaijan)
July 3: Austrian GP
July 10: British GP
July 24: Hungarian GP
July 31: German GP
August 28: Belgian GP
September 4: Italian GP
September 18: Singapore GP
October 2: Malaysia GP
October 9: Japanese GP
October 23: United States GP
November 6: Mexican GP
November 13: Brazilian GP
November 27: Abu Dhabi GP
Don't miss Wednesday night's F1 Midweek Report for analysis of the Russian GP and all the latest talking points in the sport. GP2 team owner Trevor Carlin and F1 Racing magazine editor Anthony Rowlinson join Natalie Pinkham in the studio at 8.30pm on Sky Sports F1.
