Due to difficulties encountered by the Chinese organisers of the Chinese Grand Prix, the race will not be run at the start of the season as planned, but will remain on the calendar as second reserve at the end of the season if the FIA can secure an agreement with the teams to run an extra race.

The Argentine Grand Prix remains first reserve and might be added to the calendar for March 28th, two weeks before the Brazilian GP.

Following assurances from the Italian Government to the FIA regarding the issue of criminal liability in dangerous sports and a revised plan of circuit security from the Hungarian Organizers, both the San Marino and the Hungarian GPs have been confirmed for 1999.

The FIA has re-issued the 1999 World Championship calendar at the recent World Motorsport Council meeting on December 11th. The calendar is as follows:

March 7th          Australia (Melbourne)
March 28th         Argentina (Buenos Aires) *
April 11th         Brazil (Sao Paulo)
May 2nd            San Marino (Imola)
May 16th           Monaco (Monte Carlo)
May 30th           Spain (Catalunya)
June 13th          Canada (Montreal)
June 27th          France (Magny Cours)
July 11th          Great Britain (Silverstone)
July 25th          Austria (A1-Ring)
August 1st         Germany (Hockenheim)
August 15th        Hungary (Hungaroring)
August 29th        Belgium (Spa)
September 12th     Italy (Monza)
September 26th     Europe (Nurburgring)
October 17th       Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)
October 31st       Japan (Suzuka).
   
* reserved