Abu Dhabi GP to cap expanded 20-race F1 calendar

Click above to view the Yas Island circuit in hi-res

Formula One officials announced today that the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will take place in October of next year. The event is to take place on a new track designed by renowned track architect Hermann Tilke on the same Yas Island resort that is to host the Ferrari theme park. Although the race will take place late in the season, it remains to be seen whether it will be the season finale.

That's because Formula One is set to expand to as many as 20 races as early as next season. With new markets clamoring to get the rights to host F1, several team bosses expressed their willingness to expand the current calendar, but capped their flexibility at 20 races. This year's calendar includes eighteen races, the second busiest calendar in the series' history, but with Abu Dhabi joining the schedule and San Marino campaigning to return, next year's calendar is filling up fast. And that's before India, Russia, Portugal, South Korea, Qatar or a potential return to Indianapolis are factored in.