Canada axed from F1 schedule

The Canadian Grand Prix has been dropped from the 2009 F1 calendar and replaced with the inaugural Abu Dhabi race.

The International Automobile Federation has issued a revised calendar for next year, with the Turkish GP moved from August to June to allow a summer break for the teams.

But the exclusion of the Canadian leg in 2009 means there will be no North American round, after the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis was dropped this year.

The new 18-race season will begin in Melbourne as usual on March 29 and also includes Asian stops in Bahrain, Malaysia and Singapore.

The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps has moved forward from September to August 30, the weekend after the European Grand Prix in Valencia.

The Italian Grand Prix has switched back a week to take Belgium's original September 13 date, while the British leg at Silverstone is set for June 21.