The U.S. Grand Prix has been included on the 2012 Formula One calendar, despite fears it could be cut for financial reasons.
The unchanged F1 calendar has just been approved at a World Motor Sport Council meeting in New Delhi, India.
The FIA's ratification of the 20 races also means that the Bahrain Grand Prix is scheduled as the fourth race of the season on April 22.
The 2011 race in Bahrain was supposed to be the season opener in March but was called off amid violent anti-government protests. The FIA wanted to reschedule the race for later this year but that proved impossible.
Last week, F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone gave U.S. GP organisers an extra week to save the Texas race by proving that they have the right finances in place.
Financial backers of the race in Austin, Texas, include billionaire businessman Red McCombs. The race is scheduled for 18 November and marks F1's return to the United States for the first time since 2007.
The Circuit of the Americas officials had pledged to pay F1's sanctioning fee but a dispute over signing a final contract and the long-term financing had not yet been resolved, prompting Ecclestone to extend the deadline.
The initial dispute was caused by F1's decision to scrap a previous contract it had with Tavo Hellmund, a former race driver with long family ties to Ecclestone who was originally granted the right to stage the U.S. Grand Prix.
The deal with Hellmund was recently canceled over a contract breach, and F1 officials instead began negotiating with Circuit of the Americas.
F1's presence in the U.S will increase even more in 2013. A 10-year deal will put the race along the Hudson River waterfront in New Jersey, providing views of the Manhattan skyline.
Vettel will start his bid for a third straight F1 title at the Australian Grand Prix in March. The season again ends in Brazil.
Although Vettel ended up dominating this year, the races were the most exciting in many years. There were intriguing duels between Vettel and McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button in China, Canada and Germany as Vettel showed signs he could be beaten early in the season before reasserting his supremacy in winning the Belgian GP.
The majority of drivers were pleased with rule changes in 2011 that made racing even more exciting, with a greater emphasis put on overtaking and the new Pirelli tires also favoring attacking drivers.
FIA plans to streamline races even further next season. -Sapa-AP
2012 FORMULA ONE CALENDAR:
18 March - Australian GP
25 March - Malaysian GP
15 April - Chinese GP
22 April - Bahrain GP
13 May - Spanish GP
27 May - Monaco GP
10 June - Canada GP
24 June - European GP
8 July - British GP
22 July - German GP
29 July - Hungarian GP
2 September - Belgian GP
9 September - Italian GP
23 September - Singapore GP
7 October - Japanese GP
14 October - Korean GP
28 October - Indian GP
4 November - Abu Dhabi GP
18 November - US GP
25 November - Brazilian GP