Formula 1: New Jersey race dropped from draft 2014 calendar

Video caption, Vettel goes for a spin around New York
  • Author, Andrew Benson
  • Role, Chief F1 writer

Plans for a new grand prix overlooking New York City have been dropped from the draft 2014 calendar.

The race in New Jersey is replaced by a proposed event in Mexico City, which last hosted Formula 1 in 1992.

A race in the Russian city of Sochi and the return of the Austrian Grand Prix make up a 21-race schedule circulated by F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone.

The season is due to start in Australia on 16 March and end at Interlagos in Brazil on 30 November.

Video caption, Ecclestone hints at GP in Africa

The British Grand Prix is pencilled in for 6 July, one of eight races in Europe, and would clash with the men's singles final at Wimbledon for the first time in two years.

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil would also be running, but 6 July is a rest day.

The absence of the much-anticipated New Jersey race, which would have had Manhattan as a backdrop, from the calendar is not a surprise.

"It's not on the cards next year. They haven't got any money."

However, race organisers had insisted it would go ahead.

A 21-race season would be the longest in F1 history but team sources say a grand prix in Mexico is "unlikely" given there is so much work to do at the Circuit Hermanos Rodriguez, which would host the event.

Neither of the races in Russia nor South Korea are guaranteed to take place.

There are doubts over Sochi, which will host the 2014 Winter Olympics, because of a dispute between organisers and the national motorsports authority, while Korea does not yet have a contract with Ecclestone's F1 Management company.

The F1 calendar is likely to change several times before it is made official. The 2013 schedule was not confirmed until December 2012.

Draft 2014 calendar

16 March: Australia (Melbourne)

23 March: Malaysia (Sepang)

6 April: China (Shanghai)

13 April: Korea (Korea International Circuit)*

27 April: Bahrain (Sakhir)

11 May: Spain (Barcelona)

25 May: Monaco (Monaco)

8 June: Canada (Montreal)

22 June: Austria (Red Bull Ring)

6 July: Britain (Silverstone)

20 July: Germany (Hockenheim)

27 July: Hungary (Budapest)

24 August: Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)

7 September: Italy (Monza)

21 September: Singapore (Marina Bay)

5 October: Japan (Suzuka)

19 October: Russia (Sochi)*

26 October: Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)

9 November: Mexico (Mexico City)*

16 November: USA (Austin)

30 November: Brazil (Interlagos)

*subject to confirmation