F1 may attempt record 22 races

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PARIS -- The Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi is set to host its first Formula One race next year after motorsport's governing body published a provisional calendar that includes a record 22 stops.

The calendar will not be finalized until December, but it's expected Sochi will hold the race on Oct. 5.

New Jersey and Mexico -- which last hosted a race in 1992 -- have been included as provisional venues. If approved, New Jersey would be on June 1 and Mexico the penultimate race on Nov. 16.

The previous record number of races is 20, with 19 this year, and teams have expressed reluctance about the demands so many races would entail.

The calendar was released Friday by the FIA following a World Motorsport Council meeting in Croatia. The Australian GP in Melbourne will start the season on March 16, followed by the Malaysian GP on March 30 and the Bahrain GP on April 6.

Listed after the Chinese GP, the Korean GP on April 27 is the third race marked as provisional, meaning it is subject to contract and track approval by the FIA.

There is growing interest in F1 of returning to Mexico with two Mexican drivers -- Sergio Perez (McLaren) and newcomer Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber) -- racing in F1. The race is scheduled to be sandwiched between the United States GP in Austin on Nov. 9 and the season-ending Brazilian GP on Nov. 30.

New Jersey's debut was intended this season -- against a spectacular backdrop of the Manhattan skyline -- but it was postponed to 2014 because of financial concerns.

India has been dropped next year, part of an expected switch to an early season race in March 2015. Red Bull fans may enjoy seeing Austria back on the calendar after an 11-year absence with a race at Spielberg on June 22.

Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press

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