When does the 2019 F1 season start?

Formula 1 has confirmed an official and unchanged 21-race calendar for the 2019 season. The 2019 calendar matches that of 2018 after the German Grand Prix was rescued. Next year will also feature a host of tweaks to regulations for next season, in response to incidents from the 2018 campaign.

The 2019 season will run from March to December, with Liberty maintaining a record level of races next year - with plans afoot to expand the calendar further.

The German Grand Prix's future had been in serious doubt in recent years, with the Nurburgring dropping off the calendar due to financial constraints, which had also affected the Hockenheimring.

However, Mercedes-Benz have stepped in to help finance the race, which was well-attended this year as Sebastian Vettel challenged Mercedes for dominance of F1 in 2018.

The @fia has announced that the World Motor Sport Council has approved the 2019 #F1 race calendar

Here are those race day dates for your diaries! ?????????????

* USA is subject to ASN approval pic.twitter.com/hvkbVXtsfo — Formula 1 (@F1) October 12, 2018

Three changes to the sporting regulations are also confirmed, including a tweak to rules allowing cars to overtake the safety car before a restart and changes to rear lights on on-board cameras.

Teams will be "responsible for initial scrutineering of their cars" - perhaps a response to Haas submitting cars they knew flouted the rules in Italy, earning Romain Grosjean a disqualification.

The slightly farcical end to the Canadian Grand Prix – in which Lewis Hamilton's supermodel friend Winnie Harlow dropped the chequered flag too early, costing Daniel RIcciardo the race's fastest lap – won't be replicated as an FIA-controlled light will now deem the race to be over, although the flag will still be flown for ceremonial purposes.

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