2010 Monaco GP Moved Earlier to Solve Calendar Issues

Although the Formula One calendar was announced more than a month ago by Bernie Ecclestone and the International Automobile Federation (FIA), that doesn't mean the dates in it can't change from one week to another. As confirmed by the Monaco officials earlier today, it seems the 2010 Formula One GP at Monte Carlo will be held one week earlier than initially scheduled.

Although neither the FIA, nor Ecclestone issued an official statement confirming the news, “the Automobile Club de Monaco is now reporting that the 2010 event will take place on 16 May,” as shown in a report from the GMM news agency.

Initially, the 2010 Monaco Grand Prix was scheduled for May 23, only one week before the Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul. That immediately led to some frustration within the Formula One teams, as the consecutive allocation of races would have posed a big logistics problem next year.

One solution for that not to happen – rather than moving the Monaco GP – would have been to move the Turkish Grand Prix a week later than initially scheduled. However, that would have happened only if Ecclestone's talks with the Canadian GP officials hadn't come to fruition. Being that the 78-year old Brit decided to move the Monaco race earlier may be a clear argument that Canada will indeed be on the 2010 calendar next year.

Under the circumstances, the teams will be given enough time to prepare for the Turkish Grand Prix – 2 weeks – and then switch to Montreal on June 13. An official announcement on the Canadian event is yet to be made by Ecclestone, but given the latest turn of events, it seems such a statement is imminent.

As for Monte Carlo, “the Monaco GP is traditionally held on the Sunday after the week of Ascension Day. In 2010, Ascension Day is May 13, which means that local shops will now be closed on the Thursday before the race,” noted the GMM news agency.