A Meeting of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council in Paris on Wednesday confirmed a change in the F1 sporting regulations, increasing the maximum permitted number of races in a season from 20 to 21. The 2016 campaign will therefore feature more rounds than any other in F1 history, surpassing the previous benchmark of 20 from 2012.

The expanded calendar features one new race - in Baku, Azerbaijan on June 17-19 - and the return of a Grand Prix in Germany, with Hockenheim hosting the race. Australia will once again host the season opener, on March 18-20, while Abu Dhabi will stage the final round for a fifth time, on November 25-27.

The 2016 calendar also includes six back-to-back weekends - Canada and Baku, Austria and Great Britain, Hungary and Germany, Belgium and Italy, Malaysia and Japan, and the USA and Mexico will all be held on respective consecutive weekends. The USA’s slot remains provisional.