The World Motor Sport Council has announced a number of decisions including the 2017 calendar.

As in 2016, the calendar features 21 races - the most ever in the history of the sport.

Contrary to previous leaks the opening races will not be back-to-back, but Malaysia has now switched with Singapore while the Mexican and Brazilian Grands Prix are back to back. The German Grand Prix, not for the first time in recent years, is 'subject to confirmation', as are the Canadian and Brazilian rounds.

Whilst slightly relaxing the rules on driver helmet liveries, the move which saw Lewis Hamilton take a number of deliberate penalties in Belgium in a bid to add engine components to his 'pool' has been banned.

The WMSC also confirmed changes to Appendices 6 and 8 of the 2017 F1 Sporting Regulations which clarify outsourcing arrangements and conduct permitted regarding Listed Parts, Non-Listed Parts, wind tunnel testing and personnel transfer between teams engaged in a working or developmental relationship.

A new procedure regarding wet weather starts was also accepted. From 2017, if a safety car is deemed to be required for the beginning of a race due to wet weather, a normal standing start will occur once the track is deemed safe to race. The process will see the safety car return to the pit lane and the cars assemble on the grid for the start.

Drivers must continue to present their helmets in substantially the same livery at every event of the FIA Formula One World Championship for easy recognition of the driver in the car, however a driver will now be allowed one event (such as a home race) for a special livery (at the driver’s choice). Drivers will also be allowed to change their helmet liveries if changing teams during the season.

During any single event, if a driver introduces more than one of a power unit element that is subject to penalty, only the last element fitted may be used at subsequent events without further penalty. This is to prevent the stockpiling of spare power unit elements.

For the first five events of the 2017 Championship season only, the normal team selection procedure for tyres will not be used as the deadline occurs before pre-season testing. For these events the supplier will allocate two sets of the hardest compound specification, four sets of the medium compound specification and seven sets of the softest compound specification to each driver.

Date	Race	Circuit
26-Mar	Australia	Melbourne
09-Apr	China	Shanghai
16-Apr	Bahrain	Bahrain
30-Apr	Russia	Sochi
14-May	Spain	Barcelona
28-May	Monaco	Monte Carlo
11-Jun	Canada	Montreal*
18-Jun	Azerbaijan	Baku
02-Jul	Austria	Spielberg
09-Jul	United Kingdom	Silverstone
23-Jul	Hungary	Budapest
30-Jul	Germany	Hockenheim*
27-Aug	Belgium	Spa Francorchamps
03-Sep	Italy	Monza
17-Sep	Malaysia	Sepang
01-Oct	Singapore	Singapore
08-Oct	Japan	Suzuka
22-Oct	USA	Austin
05-Nov	Mexico	Mexico City
12-Nov	Brazil	Sao Paulo*
26-Nov	UAE	Abu Dhabi