Formula 1

February 19, 2017

 

24-26 March – Melbourne

Australia has traditionally hosted the season premiere of Formula 1. The first, Formula One race held in 1985 on the street circuit in Adelaide. Australia has a contract with FIA until 2023. The length of the circuit is 5.303 km and drivers have to complete 58 laps. The Australian Lex Davison and the German Michael Schumacher are sharing the record of the most wins, four each.

7-9 April – Shanghai China

The Chinese Grand Prix made its debut in 2004, the two architects Hermann Tilke and Peter Wahl said that the shape of the track is like the Chinese character ‘Shang’. The length of the track is 5.451 km and Michael Schumacher holds the record of the fastest lap since 2004 (1:32:238s).

14-16 April – Bahrain

The first race in the Middle East took place in Bahrain on 4 April 2004. The track is located 30 km south-west of Manama. Circuit’s length is 5.412 km and can host 50,000 spectators. Pedro De La Rosa holds the lap record since 2005 (1:31:447s), Fernando Alonso has the most wins (3) and Ferrari holds the most wins as a constructor (4).

28-30 April – Sochi Russia

The Sochi circuit is located in the Black Sea resort town of Sochi in Krasnodar. The first race in Russia was held in October 2014 the same year with the Winter Olympics. The circuit has 55,000 capacity and its length is 5.848 km, the track was designed by the German architect Hermann Tilke. Nico Rosberg set the lap record last season (1:39:094s) and also won the race, followed by Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen.

12-14 May – Barcelona Spain

The Circuit de Catalunya is a known track to most of the drivers, as it hosts the pre-season tests and the Spanish Grand Prix is on the F1’s calendar since 1991. It is a challenging track because it mixes high and low-speed corners and also the tyre wear is high and depends on the winds which cut across the circuit. In 2014 Spanish Grand Prix hosted the 24th race in Barcelona. Michael Schumacher holds the record of the most wins, six victories in total.

 

25-28 May Monte Carlo Monaco

The first Formula One race in Monaco was held in 1950, Monte Carlo is one of the most difficult circuits, it requires a precision driving as the barriers are very tight and the slightest mistake might be fatal. It is a track which the overtaking is almost impossible, the brakes are overheating and the downforce is on maximum level. Ayrton Senna is the driver with the most wins in Monte Carlo, six in total and McLaren is the only team who won the Monaco Grand Prix 15 times.

09-11 June – Montreal Canada

In 1977, Gilles Villeneuve’s career inspired the French Canadians to design and construct a Formula 1 circuit. They connected all the island’s roads on Notre Dame Island and created a circuit. The first race held in 1978 and Villeneuve won his first victory with Ferrari at that season. In 1982, the circuit renamed to Gilles Villeneuve to honour his name and career. Last season Lewis Hamilton took the pole position and the chequered flag, followed by Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas.

23-25 June – Baku Azerbaijan

The newest circuit in Formula 1 takes place in Azerbaijan in Baku. It was designed by the German architect Hermann Tilke and it is one of the quickest street circuits on the calendar. The circuit has 20 turns and it is almost six kilometres long, at the fastest stint of the track the F1 cars can reach a speed up to 360 km/h.

07-09 July – Spielberg Austria

The Austrian Grand Prix (a.k.a. Red Bull Ring) returned to the Formula 1 calendar in 2014. Last season Lewis Hamilton took the chequered flag and Max Verstappen with his Red Bull finished second. The race length is 307.146 km and Alain Prost holds the record for the most victories.

c Andrew Hone

14-16 July – Silverstone UK

Silverstone is one of the most historic circuits in Formula One. In 1950, when the F1 world championship began, Silverstone held the first round. Guiseppe Farina with an Alfa Romeo won the first Grand Prix and his name entered in the Formula 1 history book. Several changes occurred in the circuit since the first race, the latest one took place in 2010, and the track became more challenging for the drivers. Ferrari has the most wins as a constructor and Jim Clark with Alain Prost are sharing the most wins record. Circuit length is 5.891km and the total length of the race is 306.291 km.

28-30 July – Budapest Hungary

The initial idea was to design a street circuit in Budapest, but in the end the authorities decided to design and build a new track 19 km outside of Budapest. The first Grand Prix took place in 1986 and more than 180,000 fans showed up. Lewis Hamilton has won the Hungarian Grand Prix six times, his latest victory was last season. Michael Schumacher has one less victory from Hamilton in Budapest.

25-27 August – Spa- Belgium

The Belgium Spa-Francorchamps circuit is one of the most favourite circuits for drivers and the fans. The first race took place in 1924 and since then it has not stopped to be in F1 calendar. It is the longest circuit on the calendar, its mix long straights, and fast corners. The most famous corner of the circuit is the Eau Rouge, combines high speed with sudden elevation change. Only six drivers managed to win the Belgian Grand Prix more than two times, these are Juan Manuel Fangio, Damon Hill, Kimi Raikkonen, Jim Clark, Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.

1-3 September – Monza Italy

Monza has its own character, every year the circuit is full of Tifosi who are cheering for their favourite team, Ferrari. Formula One race took place for the first time in 1950 and it has remained on the calendar since then. The only year that the Italian Grand Prix didn’t hold in Monza was in 1980 when it took place in Imola.

15-17 September – Singapore

In May 2007 the five-year deal between the Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone, Singapore entrepreneur Ong Beng Send and the Singapore Tourism Board, was announced. The first Grand Prix in Singapore was hosted in 2008 and it was the first night race. Many powerful lighting systems are used every year in order to replicate a daylight race. The track can accommodate more than 80,000 spectators, the circuit length is 5.065km and the total race length is 308.828km.

29-1 October – Sepang Malaysia

The first Formula One race was held in 1999, each season the drivers have to complete 56 laps and the race distance is 310.408km. Juan Pablo Montoya set the fastest lap in 2004 (1:34:223s). The circuit is located near the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, about 45km south of the capital city Kuala Lumpur. Rumours saying that Sepang circuit might be dropped from Formula One calendar due to low ticket sales.

6-8 October – Suzuka Japan

The track was built in 1962 by Honda as a test facility. A theme park and the famous big wheel were also constructed at the track, John Hugenholz was the designer of the track. Suzuka has a figure eight layout and long straight (1.2km) which is passing over the front section. Last season the German Nico Rosberg won the race, whilst Lewis Hamilton finished third.

20-22 October – Austin USA

Formula One returned to the United Stars in 2012 after five years of absence. It is a 5.5 km circuit located southeast of the Texan capital, Hermann Tile cooperated with an American architectural firm, HKS in order to design the track. Michael Schumacher has won five times in the USA, the same number of victories with the Brit Lewis Hamilton.

27-29 October – Mexico City

Mexico City made its debut as a non-championship event in 1962, a year later held the first official race until 1970 where it stopped. The last race took place in 1992 and after a break of thirteen years, Mexico returned to the F1 calendar.

 

10-12 November – Sao Paolo

A title decider circuit for many years, the Brazilian Grand Prix takes place in Interlagos since 1973. The two previous years, 1971-1972, the circuit hosted non-championship events. Only two times the Grand Prix moved from Interlagos to Rio, the first was in 1978, but the next year it returned to Interlagos and the second one was in 1981, but again after a $15m investment the race returned to Interlagos and remained there until today. The Brazilians are passionate about Formula One and the circuit is almost full every season, they have their idols as many Brazilian drivers raced in Formula 1, like Nelson Piquet, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ayrton Senna and Felipe Massa.

24-26 November – Abu Dhabi

Formula One’s finale takes place in one of the richest places in the world, in Abu Dhabi. The German architect, Hermann Tile, designed the 5.55 km Yas Marina circuit which made its debut on November 1, 2009. Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel sharie the title for the most wins, both of them won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix three times. It is one of the most competitive circuits on the F1 calendar as it combines a long straight and several tight corners which make the overtaking almost impossible.

Start your engines!

Victor Archakis

Twitter: @FP_Passion