From www.formula1.com

FIA release 2004 Formula One calendar

The FIA has released the dates and venues for the 2004 Formula One World Championship. Bahrain and China are added to the schedule as expected, with Belgium also making a welcome return to form a 17-race season.

The 2004 campaign will open as usual with the Australian and Malaysian rounds, before the inaugural Grand Prix of Bahrain on April 4. The Brazilian race moves to October 24 as the season finale.

The Nurburgring rather than Imola will host the first European round of the year, while the United States Grand Prix switches to a mid-summer slot on June 20.

Spa will host the returning Belgian Grand Prix on August 29, ahead of the final European round at Monza. The season culminates with three fly-away races, the first of which will be the Grand Prix of China in Shanghai on September 26.

The full calendar is as follows:

March 7, Grand Prix of Australia (Melbourne)
March 21, Grand Prix of Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)
April 4 ***, Grand Prix of Bahrain (Bahrain)
April 25, Grand Prix of Europe (Nurburgring)
May 9, Grand Prix of Spain (Barcelona)
May 23, Grand Prix of Monaco (Monaco)
June 6, Grand Prix of San Marino (Imola)
June 20, Grand Prix of USA (Indianapolis)
July 4, Grand Prix of Great Britain (Silverstone)
July 11 *, Grand Prix of France (Magny-Cours)
July 25, Grand Prix of Germany (Hockenheim)
August 15, Grand Prix of Hungary (Budapest)
August 29 **, Grand Prix of Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
September 12, Grand Prix of Italy (Monza)
September 26 ***, Grand Prix of China (Shanghai)
October 10, Grand Prix of Japan (Suzuka)
October 24, Grand Prix of Brazil (Sao Paulo)

* Provisional (subject to contract)
** Provisional (subject to tobacco law)
*** Subject to circuit approval

And Canada's absent :(

The logistics for the teams aren't easy.

Australia, SE Asia, then the Middle East, all just 2 weeks apart.

Three weeks before getting back to Europe.

Jump across the Atlantic and back for the US round.

Then end the season flying to China, Japan, and crossing the Pacific to Brazil.

Whole lotta traveling.

Grand Prix of China? I mean, come on, soon we will see the Kenya GP, Vietnam GP, etc.

Is the sanctioning body really trying to get courses that are the best, or are they just adding events that will be the most profitable? I tend to think it hurts some fans of the sport who want to travel with the season to make them go to China and Bahrain.

You don't think expanding the series into untapped markets is a good idea?

There's nothing wrong with expanding the series, but I personally think they should stick with first world countries. Maybe another US GP would be good :) They could have one in Colombia. That would give rabid fans a closer place to see the races...

It seems all the "First World" countries are saturated with GPs, North America withstanding:

Out of 17 races next year 10 are in Europe, with
2 in Germany
2 in Italy (San Marino considered)

but, only

1 in all of South America
1 in all of North America (used to be 2. Remember, USA is the world's largest automobile market, world's largest economy).
1 in Australia
1 in SE Asia
1 in Japan

And added

1 in China
1 in Middle East

It's a good idea to add venues to legitimize the title.

It's smart to expand into emerging markets. Consider F1 as a business, funded and driven by TV viewership and resulting revenues, then it makes sense to enter the China markets, Middle East markets, and the burgeoning business potential therein.

As it stood before, all the Chinese fans had to travel to Malaysia, all the way to Australia, or, reluctantly, Japan to view a GP, unless they settled for F3 or F3000 at the Macau GP. And all the Middle East and Africa fans had to travel to Europe (there used to be a GP in South Africa).

And Koreans may be reluctant to travel to Japan to view a GP, as well.

Over a billion Chinese and people of Chinese background (Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong / Macau), yet no GP in China.

And all the wealth in the Middle East, yet no GP, there.

I think more in South America would be a good idea, especially considering the immense popularity of F1 and karting, along with all the skilled drivers who have hailed from the continent. Also, more US races are a good idea. How about Sebring :D