FIA approves provisional 21-race F1 calendar for 2016

MEXICO CITY (AP) Formula One's governing body approved a provisional 21-race calendar for 2016 on Friday that includes an inaugural race in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The German Grand Prix is also set to return to the calendar on July 31 after that race was dropped this year due to financial problems, although a 2016 venue has not been specified.

The FIA approved the provisional schedule at a meeting in Mexico City, with the opening Australian GP set for April 3, followed by China a week later.

The Malaysian GP, which has long been an early-season event, has been pushed back to September to be held a week after the race in neighboring Singapore.

Russia moves forward to be the first European event of the season, on May 1, while the Baku race is scheduled for July 17.

The United States GP in Austin, Texas, is scheduled for Oct. 23, with the season ending in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 27.

This year's calendar has 19 races, and the expansion to 21 would be a record number of races in a season.