Formula 1 governing body, the FIA, has approved a revised calendar for the 2018 season at a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Switzerland.

Next year is set to see a 21-race schedule, matching 2016's record number, as France returns after a 10-year absence at Circuit Paul Ricard and Hockenheim hosts the now bi-annual German Grand Prix, due to the financial strife at the Nurburgring.

Malaysia is the only race that will not continue, with organisers agreeing to end their contract a year early, but there are several other notable changes to the season that will kick off in Melbourne, Australia on March 25th.

This weekend's race in Azerbaijan will take over Sochi's place in the early season flyaways, taking place on the final Sunday of April, with the Russian race moving back to the time of year of the inaugural race in 2014, filling the spot left by Sepang at the end of September.

The French Grand Prix will be a year from Saturday on June 24th and will begin a triple header of races with the Austrian and British rounds taking place on the following two weekends before a two-week separates a double-header going into the summer break with Germany on July 22 and Hungary on July 29.

The season will eventually come to an end on November 25th with the finale at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit.

“We wanted to finalise next season’s calendar early so that all our stakeholders would have more time to prepare and we have managed it, thanks in part through working closely with the FIA,” CEO Chase Carey told the official F1 website.

“We are proud to confirm that the German and French Grands Prix will take place in 2018. France was one of the seven races that made up the first-ever world championship in 1950 and it now returns after a decade. It will be held at the Paul Ricard circuit, which last hosted a round of the F1 Championship in 1990.

“The number of races has increased by one compared to the current season. We received numerous requests from those wishing to host an F1 Grand Prix but we wanted the existing promoters to feel that we are putting all our efforts into ensuring that each race is a special event, so that the fans, our most important stakeholders, can enjoy a unique and unforgettable experience. If we can do that, then the entire Formula 1 family will reap the benefit.”

2018 F1 calendar in full:

March 25 Australian GP, Albert Park
April 8 Chinese GP, Shanghai
April 15 Bahrain GP, Sakhir
April 29 Azerbaijan GP, Baku City Circuit
May 13 Spanish GP, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
May 27 Monaco GP, Monte Carlo
June 10 Canadian GP, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
June 24 French GP, Circuit Paul Ricard
July 1 Austrian GP, Red Bull Ring
July 8 British GP, Silverstone
July 22 German GP, Hockenheim
July 29 Hungarian GP, Hungaroring
August 26 Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps
September 2 Italian GP, Monza
September 16 Singapore GP, Marina Bay
September 30 Russian GP, Sochi Autodrom
October 7 Japanese GP, Suzuka
October 21 United States GP, Circuit of the Americas
October 28 Mexican GP, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
November 11 Brazilian GP, Interlagos
November 25 Abu Dhabi GP, Yas Marina Circuit

Honda could already be considering life after McLaren with a report suggesting a partnership with Williams from 2018 could be on the cards.

Both executive director Zak Brown and racing director Eric Boullier have been increasingly harsh in their criticism towards the struggling Japanese manufacturer in recent weeks, with Brown particularly angered by broken promises of upgrades and claiming the British team was "near our limit" with Honda.

Speculation has already linked McLaren with a return to Mercedes engines for next year and now veteran Swiss journalist Roger Benoit has said an effective swap with Williams could be the pathway to make that happen.

"The final question is whether the Silver Arrows actually want to revert to such a dangerous rival as McLaren," he said for the Blick publication, highlighting the major hurdle in a potential deal with Mercedes.

It is already known Honda will Sauber with engines from next year in a deal announced in Spain but, as Benoit noted when it comes whether Williams agrees to change or not: "The outcome really does not matter, as they will remain Honda's number 2 team next year."

Williams and Honda also have a history together, with Nelson Piquet claiming his Formula 1 championship during a partnership between 1983 and 1987.

However, the official line from Honda remains one of wanting to work with McLaren to solve their ongoing issues as their F1 chief Yusuke Hasegawa told RACER: "I don't think it (the relationship) has changed since the winter Barcelona test.

"They are all still frustrated, and of course we are frustrated as well. So Zak's comments are very understandable. We are frustrated and we are disappointed, so it's no wonder if they comment about something like that.

"But feeling frustration in the race does not directly mean 'they want to divorce' nor are 'ending the contract'. The frustration in the race and the decision making for the relationship are totally different matters."

Zak Brown was then asked what was needed to ease the ongoing tension: “Ultimately what we need to see is the delivery of what their expectations are on where they think they are going to get the power unit in the foreseeable couple of months," he responded.

Renault is not currently considering Robert Kubica for a future seat at their team, according to managing director Cyril Abiteboul.

The possibility of a comeback for the Polish driver, who last competed in Formula 1 in 2010, has appeared to increase significantly in recent weeks after the 32-year-old completed 115 laps in a test in Valencia before the Canadian Grand Prix.

There is also growing pressure on current race driver Jolyon Palmer, who has yet to score a point this season and has been well off the pace compared to team-mate Nico Hulkenberg.

However, talking to motorsport.com, Abiteboul played down any expectation of one replacing the other, at least for now.

"I know that the sport is full of speculation and rumours and all these things," he said. "But I think in this present case we need to be a little bit careful because we're talking about an individual that we all love, with a fantastic image, and who has suffered a very difficult situation from a personal perspective.

"So I think I would ask on this occasion everyone to be a little bit careful. Yes, we have done that test, but we don't want to create expectations in anyone's mind, including Robert himself.

"We have a long-term contract with Nico, and a contract for 2017, and all of 2017, with Jolyon but at some point, we will have to review options," he added.

"If by then, Robert becomes an option, we can have a look. As we speak, he's not on the list. He has many more things he has to accomplish so that he could be on the list."

Recently, Kubica himself has declared a return to F1 as his target and, in an interview with Polish TV, revealed: "To be honest I was working a lot to be prepared and my physical form was never as good as is now – even in the 'golden times' of my F1 career.

"My hard work helped a lot. I was ready almost for everything – many things were beyond my control until that day (the test).

"It turned out it wasn’t so scary and it was not as far as it might seem before the test.

"It’s quite close and, being honest, I can say that an F1 car was the most conducive to drive from all of the cars that I checked after my the accident, with my limitations. It’s a nice surprise," he added.

"From a physical form point of view, it was better than I could expect in the best scenarios."
 

Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner believes Formula 1 teams would cope with a 25-race schedule if organised properly.

The sport’s new majority shareholders have spoken about a desire to increase the number of current Grands Prix from 20/21 up to 25, while also highlighting the need for quality over quantity.

But, in Montreal, Fernando Alonso spoke out against the potential expansion, claiming he would retire if that was to happen.

“I’m not opposed to a few more races,” Steiner said, offering his view. “What I wish is that the races are more bundled – that we stay in one region and are not going back and forth to Asia, where you go back for one week and then back the next.

“How big the area you group together, I don’t really know. It needs to be studied of how many F1 races an area can take.

“For instance, I think it would be difficult to have a race in Abu Dhabi and then another one the next week in Bahrain because we are very close together there. But a few more races, if it is well organised, will not be that much more time away for the teams.

“In general, I have nothing against getting up to 25 races.”

Another major concern some have aired is the increased workload it would put on team personnel who are already travelling for eight months of the year.

Considering how Haas would cope, Steiner, who said a race in South Africa would be his wish, claimed: “We just need to plan and maybe relieve some people.

“Maybe not all the people will want to do 25 events, but I think it can all be managed and if we do it cleverly, it is not so much more.

“For sure, there is more cost involved because you travel more,” he added, “you need more car parts because you run more. But, in general, if we’ve got enough time to get prepared properly, we always find a way to make things work.”

McLaren is likely to have both cars start this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix from the back of the grid, as Honda brings a first step update to their struggling power unit.

The British team was already bracing for another difficult event in the Eurasian country, with the 2.2-kilometre main straight as well as a mix of slow and high-speed corners again expected to fully exploit the lack of power and efficiency from the Japanese manufacturer's engine.

At a similar type of circuit in Canada just over a week ago, Fernando Alonso was able to remain somewhat competitive, running 10th before being forced to retire two laps from the end.

However, due to the likely penalties, the platform the Spaniard was able to build that race performance on will almost certainly not exist.

"We go to Baku with even more determination, but it’s no secret that we expect to find this weekend tricky,” the double world champion conceded.

“After the power unit issues it’s likely we’ll need to take penalties and the nature of the narrow, fast straights and tight corners means overtaking is generally tough. However, it’s certainly not impossible, and we’ll keep fighting as we always do.

“As usual, the starts are always one of the most crucial points of the race for us, so getting the set-up just right on Friday in time for qualifying on Saturday will be the most important thing.”

Another troubled weekend would also do little to stem the increasing tension between Honda and McLaren, with speculation of a split only gaining pace.

F1 chief Yusuke Hasegawa insists the factory in Japan remains focused, as they look to solve both the vibrations and some of the reported 90 horsepower deficit with the next significant upgrade of which the parts brought this weekend are the first step towards.

"There will be some kind of improvement in the combustion engine in Baku," he confirmed to Japanese publication Sportiva.

"I don't know if you can call it specification three, but we'll definitely introduce something even if it is intermediate."

Asked what was causing the delay of 'specification three', Hasegawa explained: "If you improve the combustion engine, the temperature of the exhaust decreases by being more efficient, which reduces the energy recovered through the turbo and MGU-H, making it necessary to change these parts too.

"The situation is more complicated than people can imagine."

Daniel Ricciardo and Carlos Sainz are likely to face stiff opposition from Red Bull if either is to leave their respective teams at the end of this year.

Both the Spaniard and the Australian have been linked to Ferrari for 2018, who are likely to replace Kimi Raikkonen, with Sainz particularly keen to make a step up from the midfield battle with Toro Rosso.

As discussions over the future of Formula 1 engines begins, Renault managing director Cyril Abiteboul as called on the sport to maintain hybrid power.

There is a desire to see a step back a little from the complex units currently being used with an initial proposal of a more simple twin-turbo V6 + KERS touted post-2020.

While Renault, who strongly backed the switch to the current formula in 2014, is fully aware of the impact the engines have had on the sport both financially and competitively, Abiteboul also believes it is important to remain committed to what he sees as the inevitable future path of car propulsion.

"We are carmakers and the engine is the heart of the automotive industry, so we believe that it needs to be the prevailing factor in Formula 1," the Frenchman told the official F1 website.

"Having said that, we need to find a better balance than the situation we have now, where the pecking order of the grid is basically the ranking of the engines - which is not healthy for the sport.

"So yes, we need a better balance between the engine as performance differentiator and the fact that a team with a fantastic chassis can also be hugely successful. That is first.

"Secondly we do believe in electrification. The world is going towards lower emissions, so F1 cannot turn its back to this evolution so we need electrification.

"All cars will be hybrid in the future. For sure we don’t mean fully electric cars. It is all about balancing between combustion engines – as this is where the DNA of Formula 1 is – and electrification.

"Then it is much about finding the right balance between the technology and the show. Maybe right now we have an engine that is too complex and too heavy – and is not producing enough sound and horsepower.

"But we are open for any discussions in that direction."

Several key figures in determining that direction have also spoken out recently, with FIA president Jean Todt ruling out F1 becoming all-electric ala Formula E and the managing director of motorsport at the Formula One Group, Ross Brawn has suggested the future of road car technology is not conducive to the ideals of the sport.

Abiteboul remains committed to fighting the cause for hybrid power, however, revealing: "We have made a proposition to keep the current engine, but increase the fuel flow and increase the sound.

"And we have made a second proposal, which will be a simplification of the current engine by removing some of its elements but still keeping electrification and fuel efficiency."

Renault managing director Cyril Abiteboul has hinted at an August deadline for Jolyon Palmer to start scoring points as his future becomes increasingly uncertain.

The Briton has yet to score a point this season, with a best of 11th at the last two races and has only managed to exit Q1 once so far while team-mate Nico Hulkenberg has reached Q3 on four occasions.

Recent tests for Russian driver Sergey Sirotkin and Robert Kubica's first outing in an F1 car since 2011 last week have also called into question Palmer's position at the team.

"F1 is not an environment where anyone can say loudly, 'I'm safe'," Abiteboul admitted when replying to questions about the 26-year-old in Montreal.

"To a certain degree, there are two questions. There is Jo, and there is a second driver. Right now my focus is on Jo. Jo has to deliver.

"What would happen then, I don't want to elaborate on that, and even further, who would be stepping in, because that's absolutely not the point for today.

"The fact is that Jo has a car which is a point-scoring car and he has to enter into the points. Full stop," he insisted.

One reason for the patience shown by Renault has been the difficulties Palmer had in the early races, but now that grace period appears to have ended with the team concerned too much emphasis is being put on Hulkenberg to move the team forwards.

"The first thing we had to do was deliver him a weekend that was a clean weekend, and we did that in Monaco," Abiteboul explained.

"It was the first time in a while that we'd done that and for me, that weekend was almost a restart for the season for the relationship between Jo and the team. That is to finally provide him with the right platform in order for him to improve his game and hopefully, eventually to deliver."

Though not an official deadline for Palmer to meet the expectations of his boss, the next four races do appear to be crucial with Abiteboul adding: "I would hope that by the summer break I would be able to leave on holiday in sixth position in the championship."

Currently, Renault sits seventh in the Constructors' standings, four points behind Williams and seven points behind Toro Rosso in fifth.

Imola, long-time venue of the San Marino Grand Prix, has been upgraded to a Grade 1 circuit for the first time since last hosting Formula 1 in 2006 following an inspection by FIA Race Director Charlie Whiting.

Before the signing of a new three-year deal to keep the Italian Grand Prix at Monza last year, an agreement was reached between then-CEO Bernie Ecclestone and circuit bosses at Imola for the race to move from this year.

Though that will now no longer happen, the track, located in Bologna, has pushed ahead with developments both in facilities and safety which now meet the necessary requirements to achieve the Grade 1 certificate required before hosting an F1 race.

Monza too, is undergoing its own renovation with this year's race in September set to take place on an altered version of the famous 'Temple of Speed' with the main straight lengthened and a new first chicane installed on the inside of the Curva Grande.

Though that means a first hosting of the Italian race at Imola since 1980, the only year it has ever moved away from Monza will have to wait, Formula Imola chief Uberto Selvatico Estense is still hopeful of a future return to the F1 calendar.

"I hope that soon there is the confirmation by national authorities so that we can implement at Imola the promises made by the president of the ACI (Automobile Club d'Italia)," he told La Gazzetta Dello Sport.

Formula 1 could welcome the first Chinese team on to the grid in the coming years with a consortium believed to be considering a future entry, according to a report in Germany's Auto Sport und Motor.

The article suggested employees from the defunct Manor team have already been hired and members of the Red Bull outfit were approached about joining the venture.

Though details are few, it is also believed the potential new team, while backed by Chinese money, would look to be located in F1's equivalent of 'Silicon Valley' in and around Northamptonshire, where Silverstone is located.

No official application for entry has been lodged to the FIA, but three slots are currently available on the grid following the demise of those teams who joined in 2010. Managing director of motorsport for the Formula One Group, Ross Brawn also revealed initial interest from numerous parties has been made since Liberty Media took over at the start of this year.

"About 10 people have asked," he said.

Any prospective new team may have to wait a while before joining the grid, with the former team boss adding: "They all wanted to know whether we would change the rules so that new teams would be allowed a slice of the prize money distribution.

"However, we told them that we are bound by existing contracts until 2020."

Christian Horner, who revealed the approaches made to Red Bull team members, also played down the apparent aim of this Chinese consortium of a 2018 entry, declaring: "To start next year with a new team, it is actually already too late."

Any new team must first pay $20 million up front as a guarantee when applying for an entry with the FIA then completing an evaluation of the financial and technological abilities of the proposed team to be competitive.

Though F1 hasn't managed to attract the fan base it hoped to when the first race took place in Shanghai 13 years ago, business interest from China has been shown.

Ron Dennis was reportedly in talks with a Chinese group when looking to purchase McLaren, before his eventual exit last year and there was also apparent interest in the commercial rights of the sport before the deal with Liberty Media.