The Formula One 2016 season will start on March 20, rather than April 3, after Australian Grand Prix organisers confirmed a change of date.

The Melbourne event was originally slated for April 3 on the FIA's provisional calendar for next season, which would have been the latest start date for an F1 season since 1988. However, that had not been ratified by the World Motor Sport Council, with teams concerned about the impact of a later start and a more condensed calendar, with a race in Azerbaijan bringing the numbers up to 21 for the year.

Australian GP bosses had previously said they would have no trouble moving the race as long as it did not clash with Easter and on Wednesday confirmed the WMSC had altered the date to the weekend of March 17-20.