Motorsport's ruling body FIA surprisingly removed the Canadian Grand Prix from the 2009 Formula One season at an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council held Tuesday at the organization's headquarters in Paris.

As a result, there will be 18 races, the same as in the 2008 season. The 2009 season will begin with the Australian GP in Melbourne on March 29 and end with the inaugural F1 race in Abu Dhabi on November 15.