Formula One 2014 Racing Schedule

FOLLOWING THE F-1 SERIES? WE LINE UP ALL THE F-1 RACES OF 2014

In less than a week’s time, the Formula One (F1) season will start at Melbourne’s Albert Park on Sunday, March 16.

Of course, many questions are begging to be answered, even before the teams actually arrive in Australia for the first practice sessions two days ahead of the actual race.

For all you F1 fanatics out there, www.autolocopinas.com gives you when and where all the 19 F1 races will be held this year, including a new race to be held in Sochi close to the 2014 Winter Olympics venues, and the return of the Austrian Grand Prix or Austrian GP. (Photos by Formula One Management)

http://www.autolocopinas.com/

MARCH 16 - AUSTRALIA

Albert Park street circuit, Melbourne. 58 laps of 5.303 km. Total distance 307.574 km.

2013 winner: Kimi Raikkonen (Finland), Lotus

Melbourne has hosted since 1996 what has become one of the most popular races on the calendar. Raikkonen also won here in 2007 with Ferrari on the way to the driver’s title.

F1 drivers claim that this is a challenging circuit, particularly the Turn Three-Turn Four sequence due to it coming after a long straight.

MARCH 30 - MALAYSIA

Sepang circuit. 56 laps of 5.543 km. Total distance 310.408 km.

2013 winner: Sebastian Vettel (Germany), Red Bull

A hot and humid venue next to Kuala Lumpur's international airport, with the constant risk of tropical downpours.

The track has long wide straights ending with tight sweeping corners, a hallmark of F1 track designer Hermann Tilke – the architect of most F1 circuits in use today.

In last year's race Vettel ignored team orders and passed then-teammate Mark Webber to win.

APRIL 6 - BAHRAIN

Sakhir circuit. 57 laps of 5.412 km. Total distance 308.238 km.


F1 teams carried out two of the three preseason tests here so they should be well prepared for the right-in-the-desert track some 30 km southwest of the capital Manama.

Highly praised for its good surface grip due to its construction aggregate elements, the 10th edition of the race is now a dusk-to-night event under floodlights.

APRIL 20 – CHINA

Shanghai International Circuit. 56 laps of 5.451 km. Total distance 305.066 km.

2013 winner: Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari

Built on a vast, almost overwhelming scale in the shape of the Chinese character “shang” (Mandarin for “superior”) and featuring the longest straight in the 2014 F1 itinerary, the circuit has hosted F1 since 2004.

Of note on this circuit is the Turn Three-Turn Four sequence, as it is a fast entry into a tight right hander and makes finding the racing line difficult.

MAY 11 – SPAIN

Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona. 66 laps of 4.655 km. Total distance 307.104 km.

2013 winner: Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari

On the calendar since 1991, the circuit used to be the most predictable of races due to teams testing extensively, but they have not done so this year.

A proper aerodynamic setup is crucial to winning this circuit, as wind direction can change drastically at anytime.

Optimal tire grip is also key to winning at Barcelona, which features two turns right before the finish line.

MAY 25 – MONACO

Monte Carlo street circuit. 78 laps of 3.340 km. Total distance 260.520km.

2013 winner: Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes

The slowest and shortest race on the calendar, with entering and exiting certain turns being done at 50 kph in first gear.

Steeped in history, Monaco is the one circuit every driver wants to win, even if there is almost zero chance of overtaking.

Hence, getting pole position during qualifying is a must, which is never easy, given the tight track and steel barriers that are unforgiving on cars’ bodywork should one touch it at speed.

JUNE 8 – CANADA

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal. 70 laps of 4.361 km. Total distance 305.270 km.


Named after the late Ferrari great, this circuit is on the Ile Notre Dame island on Montreal's St. Lawrence River, and is known for a steady mix of fast straights and slow corners – which is a test of brake grip.

Montreal is also known for its last two turns – a right-left chicane following a heavy braking zone that has a wall on the opposite side – responsible for numerous crashes in the past.

JUNE 22 – AUSTRIA

Spielberg (70 km west of Graz, Austria). Number of 4.326 km laps to be confirmed. Last F1 race was in 2003, when it was known as the A-1 Ring.

Ferrari was the last team to win there with Michael Schumacher, and Kimi Raikkonen was second for McLaren.

F1 drivers complain that the track is slippery, and F1 engineers claim that the track takes its toll on engines due to the track’s high elevation (which reduces airflow going to a fast-moving car).

JULY 6 – GREAT BRITAIN

Silverstone. 52 laps of 5.891 km. Total distance: 306.198 km.

2013 winner: Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes

A converted WWII airfield, Silverstone hosted the first world championship grand prix in 1950.

Known for a good mix of corners taken in third gear and even faster corners taken in fifth gear, the track still gets high marks from F1 drivers due to the flowing nature of the layout – such as the Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel series of S-shaped corners taken in fourth gear.

Last year's race was notable for a spate of high speed tire blowouts.

JULY 20 – GERMANY

Hockenheimring. 67 laps of 4.574 km. Total distance 306.458 km.

The 2013 German GP was at the Nurburgring, which alternates with Hockenheim.

Hockenheim was heavily modified in 2002, with the long 17-second runs through the forest taken out and replaced with one long straight (known as the Parabolika) immediately right after Turns Two, Three and Four.

Much like Barcelona, essential to getting a fast time at Hockenheim is getting the correct racing line at the compressed s-shaped last two turns, which allows you to carry momentum over to the front straight.

JULY 27 – HUNGARY

Hungaroring, Budapest. 70 laps of 4.381 km. Total distance 306.630 km.

2013 winner: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) Mercedes

The Hungaroring competes with Monaco for the slowest and tightest circuit on the F1 calendar, with Turns Two and 14 taken at around 90 kph in second gear.

Then-Ferrari driver Felipe Massa suffered a near-fatal head injury at Turn Four in 2009 after being hit by a bouncing spring shed from compatriot (and then-Brawn Mercedes driver) Rubens Barrichello's car.

AUGUST 24 – BELGIUM

Spa-Francorchamps. 44 laps of 7.004 km. Total distance: 308.052 km.


This is the longest lap on the calendar and one of the fastest circuits in F1. The Eau Rouge corne is always a sight to see - where one goes downhill, then through an uphill left-right chicane being launched steeply uphill into a sweeping left-right-left turns with a blind crest.

F1 drivers can take Eau Rouge at 300 kph, and a loss of traction can mean severe consequences for both car and driver.

Raikkonen has won here four times, the late Ayrton Senna five times, and Schumacher six times.

SEPTEMBER 7 – ITALY

Monza. 53 laps of 5.793 km. Total distance 306.720 km.


If Rome’s St. Peter’s Basilica is the cathedral of Roman Catholics, then Monza is the cathedral of the tifosi (Scuderia Ferrari fans) – the latter never missing an opportunity to go en masse to the boot-shaped track every F1 season.

In 1988, then-Ferrari drivers Gerhard Berger and Michele Alboreto went 1-2, days after Scuderia Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari passed away, handing a then-dominant McLaren Honda (both then-drivers Senna and Alain Prost crashed mid-race) its sole loss of the 16-race 1988 F1 season.

SEPTEMBER 21 – SINGAPORE

Marina Bay street circuit. 61 laps of 5.065 km. Total distance 308.828 km.


On the calendar since 2008, labeled as the Monaco of the Far East. The only race run completely at night, thanks to floodlights positioned all around the track and the grandstands that mimic those in automaker-based painting facilities.

F1 drivers complain of its bumpy tarmac on Turns Five and Seven, along with high kerbs at the Turn 10 chicane that can potentially damage bodywork and tires, prompting Hamilton to claim that the latter is the worst corner in F1.

OCTOBER 5 – JAPAN

Suzuka. 53 laps of 5.807 km. Total distance 307.471 km.


A classic figure-of-eight circuit, owned by Honda with a theme park beside it, and attracts some of the most passionate fans anywhere in F1.

Fast, flowing and a favorite of drivers, Suzuka requires consistent approach at high speed on all corners to get a fast time. The 130R, Spoon and Degner turns require a balanced car and watermelon-sized cojones to negotiate due to their tricky apexes and the position of the kerbs.

OCTOBER 12 – RUSSIA

Sochi street circuit. Details to be confirmed. Track length 5.853 km.

A wholly new race for 2014, the circuit loops around the park built for the Winter Olympics.

At present 55,000 tickets are on sale for the race, and Russian president Vladimir Putin has confirmed his attendance.

NOVEMBER 2 - UNITED STATES

Circuit of the Americas (Austin, Texas, USA). 56 laps of 5.513 km. 2 a.m. Manila time. Total distance 308.405 km.


The first purpose-built F1 circuit in the USA, F1 drivers give it high marks for its near-complete replication of certain turns on Europe circuits, such as the fast Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel series of S-shaped corners. Run anti-clockwise, Austin puts big strain on drivers’ necks, as they are used to the predominantly right-hand turns of most F1 tracks.

NOVEMBER 9 – BRAZIL

Interlagos (Sao Paulo). 71 laps of 4.309km. Total distance 305.909km.


The penultimate race of the season, the track runs anti-clockwise.

Interlagos is also notoriously bumpy and chock-full of hills and dips, but totes an atmospheric bowl-like venue.

A strong engine and a compromise regarding ride height is essential for winning here.

NOVEMBER 23 - ABU DHABI

Yas Marina. 55 laps of 5.554 km. Total distance 305.355 km.


The last of the three consecutive anti-clockwise circuits for the season and the season finale, Yas Marina is a dusk-to-night race under floodlights.

Arguably the most opulent circuit on the calendar, it is praised by F1 drivers due to its high level of grip (the asphalt composition is the same as Sakhir’s), myriad off-track attractions (including a theme park for all things Ferrari), a part of the track going directly under a bridgeway for guest viewing, and a pit lane that goes under the front straight by way of a brightly lit tunnel.

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Formula One 2014 Racing Schedule