Formula One season to start from April in 2016

It seems like the winter break of Formula One is all set to be longer with the season opener of 2016 to take place in April in Australia making it the latest starting date for a season since 1988.

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO, Andrew Westacott, confirmed the race weekend would run from March 31 to April 3 and would also have an earlier start time due to its positioning after the switch from daylight savings time.

“It’s fantastic that Melbourne will again play host to the opening round of the FIA Formula One World Championship,” Westacott said. “Over the past 20 years Melbourne has become synonymous with the start of a new Formula One season, and we look forward to again welcoming all the teams and drivers to our great city in 2016. The new date will see an earlier start time, and fans can expect the same great on-track action and off-track entertainment across the four days.”

The Australian Grand Prix has been traditionally held in March since shifting from Adelaide to Melbourne in 1996, the only exception being the 2006 race, which was run in April to avoid a clash with the Commonwealth Games.

The final draft of the 2016 calendar is still under much consideration with the fate of the German Grand Prix and the Italian Grand Prix hanging in balance, and the addition of the race in Azerbaijan.