There are 19 races on the 2013 F1 schedule from Austin to Abu Dhabi. Here are some of the highlights.
The fastest: Monza, Italy
The nearest thing F1 has to an IndyCar or NASCAR-style oval. Built just outside Milan in 1922, Monza is essentially four quick corners connected by long straights, interrupted by three chicanes to slow the cars down.
The latter means the classic slipstreaming races Monza used to see are a thing of the past. But it remains F1′s quickest track. The fastest ever F1 race took place here in 2003, won by Michael Schumacher at an average speed of 153.843mph.
Video: Lap of Monaco with Michael Schumacher in 2003
The longest: Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
Like Monza, the Spa circuit in the Ardennes forest in Belgium featured in the first ever world championship in 1950. Then an 8.7-mile monster, even in its reduced form the 4.3-mile track remains the longest in F1.
It’s also one of the most popular among the drivers as it is fast and flowing, with few of the many slow corners found on modern tracks. Eau Rouge, Pouhon, Stavelot and Blanchimont are some of the evocative names of the thrillingly fast corners to be found on the track.
The most glamorous: Monte-Carlo, Monaco
Holding a race around the streets of the tiny principality of Monaco is preposterous and marvelous. Were it not for its prestige and heritage there is no way a similar race could be envisaged today.
Monaco generally does not produce great races because overtaking is practically impossible. But its narrow confines are a stern challenge for the drivers and when combined with a sprinkling of rain it’s one of the toughest events in motor racing.
Video: Lap of Monaco with Ralf Schumacher, 2004
The original: Silverstone, Britain
The world championship began at Silverstone in 1950 and although the circuit has been transformed almost beyond recognition since then, it still features some of F1′s quickest and most challenging corners.
Video: Lap of Silverstone with Jenson Button, 2011
The drivers’ favorite: Suzuka Japan
Along with Spa, the sinuous Suzuka circuit with its unique crossover is regularly named by drivers as one of their favorites.
Not just because of the demanding opening sector, the high-speed corners and the enthusiasm of Japan’s fans. But because it is one of a dwindling number of circuits where a mistake is punished by contact with a barrier instead of a long drive through a wasteland of tarmac run-off.
The newest: Circuit of the Americas, USA
The home of the United States Grand Prix was an instant hit when it held its first race last year. The complex opening sector is among its best features – and of course the warm welcome from American fans who’d gone five years without a race of their own.
The rest
The city of Melbourne welcomes the teams to round one. The opening flyaway tour includes Malaysia, China and Bahrain before heading to Europe for the Spanish Grand Prix.
Canada’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve often provides exciting races. The German Grand Prix returns to the (short) Nurburgring this year.
A hectic sequence of final races begins with the Singapore night race and takes in Korea, India and Abu Dhabi. The United States Grand Prix on November 17th begin a double-header finale which concludes with the Brazilian Grand Prix in the feverish atmosphere of Interlagos in Sao Paulo.
F1 Primer
-
The Monaco Grand Prix has traditionally been a “one-stop” race but Pirelli expect drivers will have to make more than one visit to the pits on Sunday. Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery said “strategy will become even more important than usual” at Monaco because of the difficulty of overtaking on the narrow, two-mile track. All…
-
Charlie Kimball has the potential to surprise at this year’s Indy 500
May 20, 2013, 6:00 PM EDT
Getty Images
The Indianapolis 500 is so much more than just a race for the IndyCar community and the state of Indiana at large. According to Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing’s Charlie Kimball, the month of May is its own season. “There’s winter, spring, May, fall, and Colts season,” Kimball said Monday in Milwaukee for Indy 500…
-
Indianapolis 500 polesitter Ed Carpenter is better than you think
May 20, 2013, 4:00 PM EDT
Getty Images
Throughout his career, Ed Carpenter probably has been derided more than any other male driver in IndyCar racing. And that’s a damn shame. Carpenter’s a throwback in the modern IndyCar series. He’s a pure bred oval racer, born and raised on the dirt tracks of Indianapolis. A true Hoosier, he’s a Butler graduate with a…
-
The weekend roundup: In other news beyond F1, Indy, NASCAR
May 20, 2013, 3:00 PM EDT
This weekend may have been the busiest for series not called Formula One, IndyCar and NASCAR. F1 and the two domestic North American sports car championships, GRAND-AM and the American Le Mans Series, were all off. But here’s what else was going on around the motorsports world this weekend: The Australian V8 Supercars made their…
-
Getty Images
It’s been six years since an American has claimed victory at the Indianapolis 500. Back in 2006, Team Penske’s Sam Hornish Jr. beat Marco Andretti to the checkered flag by .0635 of a second in the second-closest finish in Indy history. Since then, two Brits (Dario Franchitti – 2007, 2010, 2012; the late Dan Wheldon…
-
AP
It’s hard not to feel for Michel Jourdain Jr. this Monday. Jourdain was the only driver who failed to qualify for this year’s Indianapolis 500, as he battled an ill-handling car all week for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Jourdain is one of the nicest, most genuine people in the IndyCar community, and he has been…
-
Getty Images
Bernie Ecclestone believes BMW could make a return to F1 in the near future as Honda are doing. Ecclestone told City AM newspaper he would be “surprised” if BMW did not revive their Formula One effort. “I think they could come in,” he added. “The amount of money they spent was not significant in the…
-
Getty Images
Pastor Maldonado has high hopes about his return to Monaco for this weekend’s grand prix. Maldonado has a strong record on the demanding Monte-Carlo street track from his junior career. He has not scored there in his two previous F1 visits, though he came close in 2011 before a controversial collision with Lewis Hamilton. “I…
-
Editor’s Note: Two of racing’s biggest events take place on Sunday – the Monaco Grand Prix, which airs live on NBC Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET, and the Indianapolis 500. One family has a particular interest in both races. They will be the squads that form the Franchitti/di Resta clan. Guest contributor Andy Hallbery, a…
-
Bernie Ecclestone has rubbished the charges of bribery being levelled at him in Germany. Ecclestone told his biographer Tom Bower in an interview for the Sunday Times: “I still don’t know what the German prosecutors think.” “I wish I was guilty – it would be much easier,” he added. “The charges are a complete load…
-
Getty Images
Former McLaren technical director Paddy Lowe will make an early start for his new team Mercedes after a deal was struck between the two teams. Lowe will begin work for Mercedes on June 3rd after McLaren agreed to allow Lowe to join them before his contract expired at the end of the year. McLaren are…
-
Getty Images
- If you’re into numerology, it would appear that the number four is playing a role in how this 97th Indianapolis 500 is playing out so far. The field for this year’s running features four former winners of the “500″ (Dario Franchitti, Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon and Buddy Lazier), four rookie drivers (Carlos Munoz, A.J.…
-
AP
For the first time since 2011, four female drivers will be racing at the Indianapolis 500. Today, three of them — Dale Coyne Racing’s Ana Beatriz and Pippa Mann (pictured), as well as 33rd and final qualifier Katherine Legge from Schmidt Peterson Pelfrey Motorsports — joined KV Racing Technology’s Simona de Silvestro (24th position) on…
-
AP
With roughly 15 minutes remaining on Bump Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the seemingly inevitable decision was made by Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing to stop the desperate effort to get Michel Jourdain, Jr. into the 97th Indianapolis 500. But while the call may have been inevitable, it was no less harder to take for…
-
AP
A grueling month of May for rookie driver Conor Daly got better on Sunday as he was able to make the field for next weekend’s Indianapolis 500, sticking his No. 41 A.J. Foyt Racing Honda on the inside of Row 11. Daly put up a four-lap average of 223.582 miles per hour in the opening…
-
AP
With about 20 minutes remaining in Bump Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Katherine Legge was strapped into her No. 81 Schmidt Peterson Pelfrey Motorsports Honda, ready to defend her spot on the 33rd starting position for the 97th Indianapolis 500 if necessary. Turns out she didn’t have to bother. Legge’s four-lap average of 223.176…
-
Hinchcliffe aims for third win of season at Indianapolis (VIDEO)
May 19, 2013, 5:18 PM EDT
Getty Images
As James Hinchcliffe tweeted after his dramatic victory in the most recent IZOD IndyCar Series race at Sao Paulo, Brazil, “I don’t always finish races, but when I do, I prefer to win.” “Rollercoaster” may be the optimal word to describe the Canadian fan favorite’s season so far. It began at St. Petersburg, Florida with…
-
Walker: Getting fans “re-ignited” is IndyCar’s biggest challenge
May 19, 2013, 4:10 PM EDT
Getty Images
Five years after open-wheel racing unified in North America, the IZOD IndyCar Series continues to face a uphill climb in regards to growing its mainstream presence. The split between the series (then known as the Indy Racing League) and Champ Car that lasted from 1996 to 2008 had a disastrous impact on the sport, causing…
-
Getty Images
With his fourth NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race victory in hand, Jimmie Johnson now looks to re-assert himself as the king of NASCAR’s longest challenge — the Coca-Cola 600. Johnson, the five-time Sprint Cup champion, won three consecutive “600s” at Charlotte Motor Speedway from 2003 to 2005. But the 1.5-mile oval outside the Queen City has…
-
Getty Images
Charlie Kimball (pictured), Dario Franchitti, Josef Newgarden and Graham Rahal will be forced to suffer 10-spot grid penalties for the first race of the next IZOD IndyCar Series event — the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit doubleheader on June 1 — due to unapproved engine changes this weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Chip Ganassi Racing…
