2017 F1 schedule announced, season kicks-off on March 26 but no place for German GP

Paris: The European Grand Prix in Baku will be staged a week earlier in 2017 to avoid clashing with the famed Le Mans 24 Hour Race, motor racing`s governing body the FIA said on Wednesday.

In a schedule reduced to 20 races, rather than the 21 of 2016, the Baku race will be staged on June 25, a week after Le Mans, which runs over June 17 and 18.

Missing from the programme for next year is the German Grand Prix. Nuremberg is financially unable to stage the race while 2016 host Hockenheim was not willing to take it on for two seasons back-to-back.

Nuremberg also passed up the opportunity in 2015.

Nico Rosberg will start the defence of his Formula One world title in Australia on March 26 with Abu Dhabi again staging the season finale, on November 26.

2017 F1 championship:

March 26: Australia (Melbourne)

April 9: China (Shanghai)

April 16: Bahrain (Sakhir)

April 30: Russia (Sochi)

May 14: Spain (Barcelona)

May 28: Monaco

June 11: Canada (Montreal)

June 25: Europe (Baku)

July 9: Austria (Spielberg)

July 16: Great Britain (Silverstone)

July 30: Hungary (Budapest)

August 27: Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)

September 3: Italy (Monza)

September 17: Singapore

October 1: Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)

October 8: Japan (Suzuka)

October 22: United States (Austin)

October 29: Mexico

November 12: Brazil (Sao Paulo)

November 26: Abu Dhabi (UAE)