Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
APRIL 17 – CHINA
Shanghai International Circuit. 56 laps of 5.451km. Total distance 305.256km. 2015 winner: Hamilton. Race start 0600 GMT (1400 local). Built on a vast, almost overwhelming scale in the shape of the Chinese character ‘shang’. Has hosted race since 2004.
MAY 1 – RUSSIA
Sochi street circuit. 53 laps of 5.848km, distance 309.944km. 2015 winner: Hamilton. Race start 1200 GMT (1500 local). Made its debut on the calendar in 2014, with the circuit looping around the park built for the Winter Olympics. Moves from late in the year to a new May Day slot.
MAY 15 – SPAIN
Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona. 66 laps of 4.655km. Total distance 307.230km. 2015 winner: Hamilton. Could be predictable, with most teams having already spent eight days testing there pre-season. On the calendar since 1991.
MAY 29 – MONACO.br> Monte Carlo street circuit. 78 laps of 3.337km. Total distance 260.286km. 2015 winner: Rosberg. The slowest and shortest race but still the most glamorous. Steeped in history, the one every red-blooded racing driver wants to win however much they complain about it being outmoded and dangerous. Also a home race for many of the drivers.
JUNE 12 – CANADA
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal. 70 laps of 4.361km. Total distance 305.270km. 1800 GMT (1400 local). 2015 winner: Hamilton. Popular with sponsors and teams since 1978. Named after the late Ferrari great and father of Jacques, the circuit is on the Ile Notre Dame in the St Lawrence River.
JUNE 19 – AZERBAIJAN (EUROPEAN GP)
Baku City Circuit. New race, number of laps not yet known. Lap distance: 6.006km. Race start 1300 GMT (1800 local). The historic centre and seaside promenade, with a 2.2km stretch, provide the backdrop.
JULY 3 – AUSTRIA
Spielberg. A small town in the southern Styria region, not far from Graz. 71 laps of 4.326km laps. Total distance 307.146km. 2015 winner: Rosberg. The race returned in 2014 for the first time since 2003. Formerly the A1-Ring circuit, now owned by Red Bull.
JULY 10 – BRITAIN
Silverstone. 52 laps of 5.891km. Total distance: 306.332km. Start time 1200 GMT (1300 local). 2015 winner: Hamilton. A former Second World War airfield, hosted the first world championship grand prix in 1950.
JULY 14 – HUNGARY
Hungaroring, Budapest. 70 laps of 4.381km. Total distance 306.670km. 2015 winner: Vettel. The first race here in 1986 was a breakthrough for F1 behind the ‘Iron Curtain’ dividing Europe. Tight, twisty and slow. Brazilian Felipe Massa suffered a near-fatal head injury here in 2009.
JULY 31 – GERMANY
Hockenheim. 67 laps of 4.574km. Total distance 306.458km. 2015 – no race. Briton Jim Clark died here during an F2 race in 1968. The track was heavily modified in 2002, with a long run through the forest removed.
AUGUST 28 – BELGIUM
Spa-Francorchamps. 44 laps of 7.004km. Total distance: 308.176km. 2015 winner: Hamilton. The longest lap on the calendar and one of the fastest circuits. Often wet, always thrilling. A favourite circuit for drivers and fans. Ayrton Senna won here five times, Michael Schumacher six.
SEPTEMBER 4 – ITALY
Monza. 53 laps of 5.793km. Total distance 307.029km. 2015 winner: Hamilton. ‘La Pista Magica’ is a temple of Italian motorsport and all things Ferrari. One of the oldest, dating back to the 1920s, and still the fastest circuit in F1. Its future beyond 2016 remains uncertain.
SEPTEMBER 18 – SINGAPORE
Marina Bay street circuit. 61 laps of 5.065km. Total distance 308.965km. Race start 1200 GMT (2000 local). 2015 winner: Vettel. On the calendar since 2008, now the Monaco of the Far East. The only race run completely at night.
OCTOBER 2 – MALAYSIA
Sepang circuit. 56 laps of 5.543km. Total distance 310.408km. 0700 GMT start (1500 local). 2015 winner: Vettel. A hot and steamy venue, with the constant risk of tropical downpours, next to Kuala Lumpur’s international airport. Long straights and tight corners. The race has moved from early in the season to be paired with Singapore.
OCTOBER 9 – JAPAN
Suzuka. 53 laps of 5.807km. Total distance 307.771km. Race start 0500 GMT (1400 local). 2015 winner: Hamilton. A classic figure-of-eight circuit, owned by Honda with a funfair alongside. Fast, flowing and a favourite of drivers. Attracts some of the most passionate fans anywhere in F1. The 2014 race was overshadowed by Jules Bianchi’s tragic accident.
OCTOBER 23 – UNITED STATES
Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. 56 laps of 5.513km. Total distance 308.728km. Race start 1900 GMT (1400 local). 2015 winner: Hamilton. First purpose-built F1 circuit in United States. Anti-clockwise layout with 20 turns. Hamilton won the title here last year.
OCTOBER 30 – MEXICO
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City. 71 laps of 4.304km. Total distance 305.584km. 2015 winner: Rosberg. Race start 1900 GMT (1300 local). Returned to the calendar last year for the first time since 1992. Named after racing brothers Ricardo and Pedro.
NOVEMBER 13 – BRAZIL
Interlagos, Sao Paulo. 71 laps of 4.309km. Total distance 305.939km. Race start 1600 GMT (1400 local). 2015 winner: Rosberg. Atmospheric bowl-like venue that hosted its first GP in 1973. Home of Senna, Rubens Barrichello and Massa. Circuit runs anti-clockwise.
NOVEMBER 27 – ABU DHABI
Yas Marina. 55 laps of 5.554km. Total distance 305.470km. 2015 winner: Rosberg. Race start 1300 GMT (1700 local). Day-to-night race under floodlights. Made its debut in 2009. Most opulent circuit on the calendar. Anti-clockwise.
* Start times are 1200 GMT/1400 local unless stated.
