The long-anticipated change was finally officially confirmed by the F1 organisation on Friday.

China has now moved to April 15, with Bahrain taking the April 8 slot.

It had been expected that the swap would be rubber-stamped at the World Motor Sport Council meeting last week, but no changes were announced at that time.

Instead it was confirmed when F1 announced that the Shanghai event, which had been listed on the provisional calendar as 'subject to confirmation', hadextended its contract.

Chinese GP organisers had been keen for the date change to avoid a national holiday.

Formal approval of the change still has to come from the World Motor Sport Council, which next meets in Paris on December 6.

With Singapore havingalso secured its futureinto 2018 and beyond, next year's schedule now appears to be firm.

2018 F1 calendar

March 25 Melbourne, Australia
April 8 Sakhir, Bahrain
April 15 Shanghai, China
April 29 Baku, Azerbaijan
May 13 Barcelona, Spain
May 27 Monaco
June 10 Montreal, Canada
June 24 Paul Ricard, France
July 1 Red Bull Ring, Austria
July 8 Silverstone, Great Britain
July 22 Hockenheim, Germany
July 29 Hungaroring, Hungary
August 26 Spa, Belgium
September 2 Monza, Italy
September 16 Singapore
September 30 Sochi, Russia
October 7 Suzuka, Japan
October 21 Austin, USA
October 28 Mexico City, Mexico
November 11 Interlagos, Brazil
November 25 Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi