F1 Supplement

F1 RACE CALENDAR FOR 2010 SEASON

March 10 - 16, 2010
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The Formula One season will have a record-equalling 19 races in 2010, with South Korea making its debut and Canada returning after a year's absence.

The following details the circuits involved (all starting times are 1200 GMT/1500 Bahrain unless stated):

March 14 - BAHRAIN (Sakhir). Circuit length 6,299km, 49 laps, 308.405km. 2009 winner: Jenson Button (Britain) Brawn GP. Starts at 1200 GMT (1500 Bahrain time). One of two races in the Middle East, the desert track is one of the most modern but sand can be a problem. The circuit has been extended from last year's 5.412km, with an extra loop of corners after turn four.

March 28 - AUSTRALIA (Albert Park, Melbourne). 5.303km, 58 laps, 307.574km. 2009 winner Button. Starts at 0600 GMT (0900 Bahrain time). A temporary parkland circuit but still way better than many permanent ones in Europe. The late start is to cater for European television audiences and the setting sun caused problems last year for some drivers, who felt conditions were dangerous. Melbourne was the season-opener in 2009.

April 4 - MALAYSIA (Sepang). 5.543km, 56 laps, 310.408km. 2009 winner Button. Starts at 0800 GMT (1100 Bahrain time). The high humidity makes this a strength-sapping race for drivers. The start has been brought forward an hour from last year, when the race had to be stopped early due to a tropical downpour.

April 18 - CHINA (Shanghai). 5.451km, 56 laps, 305.066km. 2009 winner Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Red Bull. Starts at 0700 GMT (1000 Bahrain time). A vast state-of-the-art circuit lacking the passion and soul of older European venues. To the north-east of Shanghai, it can seat 200,000 spectators.

May 9 - SPAIN (Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona). 4.655km, 66 laps, 307.104km. 2009 winner Button. A familiar circuit to all the teams from testing. On the calendar since 1991 but races have often been processional. Spain is the only country with two races.

May 16 - MONACO. 3.340km, 78 laps, 260.520km. 2009 winner Button. The jewel in the crown and still the most glamorous street race of them all, despite competition from Singapore. Qualifying is crucial due to the difficulty of overtaking.

May 30 - TURKEY (Istanbul Park). 5.338km, 58 laps, 309.396km. 2009 winner Button. One of three anti-clockwise circuits in the championship, the others being Interlagos in Brazil and Singapore. Likened to Spa for its fast and undulating layout, the circuit is on the Asian side of Istanbul.

June 13 - CANADA (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal). 4.361km, 70 laps, 305.270km. No race last year. Starts at 1600 GMT (1900 Bahrain time). The track is on the Ile de Notre Dame, a man-made island on the St Lawrence seaway that was built for the 1976 EXPO exhibition and first hosted the race in 1978. Can be very dusty.

June 27 - EUROPE (Valencia, Spain). 5.419km, 57 laps, 308.883km. 2009 winner Rubens Barrichello (Brazil), Brawn. Made its debut in 2008 with the dullest race of the season. Europe's second street circuit.

July 11 - BRITAIN (Silverstone). 5.901km, 52 laps, 306.747km. 2009 winner Vettel. Starts 1200 GMT (1500 Bahrain time). The circuit hosted the first championship GP in 1950. Already one of the longest tracks in F1, the layout has been extended with a new Arena section. This year's race is on the same day as the soccer World Cup final.

July 25 - GERMANY (Hockenheim). 4.574km, 67 laps, 306.458km. 2009 winner Mark Webber (Australia), Red Bull. Now alternating with Nuerburgring as host of Germany's sole race.

August 1 - HUNGARY (Hungaroring, Budapest). 4.381km, 70 laps, 306.630km. Lewis Hamilton (Britain), McLaren. The first race behind the old Iron Curtain, still the only one in Eastern Europe. A slow track, with overtaking difficult.

August 29 - BELGIUM (Spa-Francorchamps). 7.004km, 44 laps, 308.052km. 2009 winner Kimi Raikkonen (Finland), Ferrari. The longest and second fastest race on the calendar and a classic track, despite struggling with poor attendances and financial problems. Weather conditions are unpredictable. The left-right sweep of Eau Rouge is less awesome but is still a test of bravery.

September 12 - ITALY (Monza). 5.793km, 53 laps, 306.720km. 2009 winner Barrichello. The oldest and fastest race. Set in a royal park north-east of Milan, where speeds top 360kph and an average of more than 240kph per lap. No other circuit has hosted more races.

September 26 - SINGAPORE. 5.073km, 61 laps, 309.316km. 2009 winner Hamilton. Starts at 1200 GMT (1500 Bahrain time). The sport's first night race and F1's first street circuit in Asia, lapping the Marina Bay area.

October 10 - JAPAN (Suzuka). 5.807km, 53 laps, 307.573km. 2009 winner Vettel. Starts at 0600 GMT (0900 Bahrain time). Honda-owned, a high-speed circuit much-loved by the drivers.

October 24 - SOUTH KOREA (Korea Auto Valley). 5.621km, 55 laps, 309.155km. No previous race. Starts at 0600 GMT (0900 Bahrain time). The coastal circuit is some 300km from Seoul.

November 7 - BRAZIL (Interlagos, Sao Paulo). 4.309km, 71 laps, 305.909km. 2009 winner Webber. Starts at 1600 GMT (1900 Bahrain time). Has been the title-decider for the past five seasons. The sheer passion of the locals and the bowl-like amphitheatre make up for ramshackle facilities. Rain is a risk.

November 14 - ABU DHABI (Yas Marina). 5.554km, 55 laps, 305.355km. 2009 winner Vettel. Starts at 1300 GMT (1600 Bahrain time). The sport's first day-to-night race. A lavish no-expense-spared facility, costing $1 billion to build according to some estimates.







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