German Grand Prix

The German Grand Prix is an annual automobile race that has been held most years since 1926, with 73 races presently having been held. The race has had a remarkably stable history for one of the older Grands Prix, having been held at just three different venues throughout its life; the Nürburgring in Rhineland-Palatinate, Hockenheimring in Baden-Württemberg and on odd occasion AVUS near Berlin. The race continued to be known as the German Grand Prix, even through the era when the race was held in West Germany.

Because West Germany was banned from taking part in international events after World War II, the German Grand Prix only became part of theFormula One World Championship in 1951. It was designated the European Grand Prix four times between 1954 and 1974, when this title was an honorary designation given each year to one grand prix race in Europe. It has been organized by AvD (Automobile Club of Germany) since 1926. The well-known ADAC hosts many other races, one of which has been the second F1 race in Germany at the Nürburgring, held there since 1995.

Canadian Grand Prix

The Korean Grand Prix is a Formula One race held in South Korea. After months of speculation, on October 2, 2006 it was confirmed that the event would actually take place in 2010, and would be hosted by the Korea International Circuit. It has also been revealed that the race will be promoted by a public-private company. The deal is for seven years with a five year option that would ensure the race to be held until 2021.

Despite this earlier confirmation, the South Korean Grand Prix was not included on any of the provisional 2010 calendars floated by Formula One Management. Following approval of funding for the event, however, Korea was given the date of 17 October on the 2010 calendar published by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) on 21 September 2009. On December 10, 2009, the organisers of the event announced that they were on schedule, with a plan to finish the circuit on July 5, 2010, though they admitted that their largest problem lay in finding accommodation for all Formula One staff and spectators. The organisers also ruled out the possibility of staging the race at night until they have more knowledge of and experience in running a Grand Prix. Despite all the confirmation there was still a risk that the circuit might not be on time, however this was denied by the race promoter who said that the circuit was ahead of schedule.

After several postponements, the FIA scheduled a final inspection of the circuit on 11 October 2010, 13 days before the Korean Grand Prix was scheduled to begin. After the FIA inspection, Race Director Charlie Whiting declared that the race would go ahead.

Formula One drivers commented positively on the new circuit before the race weekend got under way, with several commenting that it looks like an interesting, challenging track.

European Grand Prix

The European Grand Prix was a Formula One event that was reintroduced during the mid-1980s and has been held regularly from 1999 until 2012. The most recent host venue for this event was Valencia, Spain, hosting the race from 2008 until 2012.

In earlier years, the European Grand Prix was not a race in its own right but just an honorific title; one of the national Grands Prix was also designated as the European Grand Prix. The first race to be so named was the 1923 Italian Grand Prix, held at Monza and won by Carlo Salamano in a Fiat and the last one was the 1977 British Grand Prix. Since its reintroduction, the European Grand Prix is usually held in a country that also holds a national Grand Prix in that same year.

The European Grand Prix was created as an honorific title by the AIACR, the FIA's predecessor in the organisation of motor racing events. The first race to receive the title was the Italian Grand Prix, in 1923, and it was followed by the French Grand Prix and Belgian Grand Prix. After a hiatus in 1929, Spa received the last honorific title of the pre-WWII years, in 1930.

The title was revived by the FIA after World War II, and was first given to the Belgian Grand Prix in 1947, and was distributed across several countries until the 1977 British Grand Prix, the last race to receive the honorific title. All post-war honorific European Grands Prix were F1 races.

The Italian Grand Prix was named the European Grand Prix seven times, which was more than any other race. It received the title three times in the 1920s.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is a Formula One race. It was announced in early 2007 at the Abu Dhabi F1 Festival in the United Arab Emirates. The first race took place on November 1, 2009, held at the Hermann Tilke designed Yas Marina Circuit.

On June 25, 2008 the FIA announced the provisional 2009 Formula One calendar including the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as the 19th and final race of the season on November 15. On November 5, 2008, however, it was announced that the race would be held as the season finale on November 1, two weeks before the initially planned date, as the 17th and final race.

The inaugural race was Formula One's first ever day-night race, starting at 17:00 local time. Floodlights used to illuminate the circuit were switched on from the start of the event to ensure a seamless transition from daylight to darkness. Subsequent Abu Dhabi Grands Prix have also been day-night races.

Formula 1 first came to Abu Dhabi in 2007 in the guise of the first ever Formula One Festival. Announced in January 2007, the event which took place on 3 February 2007 was free, and the largest gathering of current Formula One cars and drivers outside of a Grand Prix. At the festival it was announced that Abu Dhabi had won the rights to host a Grand Prix from 2009 until 2016. Later that year, Etihad Airways negotiated a three-year deal for them to become sponsors of the Grand Prix.

For the 2009 Formula One season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was added to the schedule. It was provisionally announced as being held on 15 November 2009, as the 19th and final Grand Prix of the season. Both the Canadian Grand Prix and French Grand Prix were later removed from the provisional schedule, and as a result the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was moved to 1 November 2009 where it would become the last of 17 meetings.  In August 2009, it was announced that the start time would be 1700 local time, and that the race would be floodlit. The inaugural race was won by Sebastian Vettel for Red Bull Racing.

Ferrari to Race 800th Time

Ferrari is currently the oldest surviving team on the Formula One circuit, that started out in 1948. The team's first victory came in the year 1951. It has been a long successful journey over the decades, and this weekend, the Turkish Grand Prix will witness Ferrari's 800th race as a team.

Luca di Montezemolo, chairman of Ferrari said on the official Formula 1 website, "Eight hundred Formula One Grands Prix represents a milestone in the life of Ferrari, which fills us with satisfaction and pride. I want to share our delight in this achievement with all the drivers who have driven our cars in the world championship, and with our fans. It is nice to look back and see what we have done together, aware we are part of a story that is without equal and is ongoing." He joined Ferrari as sports director in 1973. Montezemolo, in his Ferrari stint, has seen 359 races with the team all over the world.

Besides this phenomenal record, Ferrari boasts of numerous other achievements. They possess 632 podium finishes, 80 one-two finishes, 211 race wins, 15 drivers' championships, and 16 constructor's championships. They hold the record for the most number of consecutive race wins - 14 in 1952-53. Ferrari's winning record is an awesome 26%. Michael Schumacher holds the record for the most wins in a season for a driver - 13 in 2004. Other records the legend holds are 19 consecutive podium finishes in 2001-02, and 24 continuous races fetching points. All these besides his most race wins and world championships.

Ferrari driver Felipe Massa said, "It's a great pleasure for me to be a small part of these 800 Grands Prix for Ferrari. I will try my best to go to Turkey to fight for the victory, to have also a nice celebration about these 800 Grands Prix. It's a fantastic feeling to be inside this nice story." Fernando Alonso also added, "Hopefully, I can celebrate a hundred races with Ferrari! When I joined the team it seemed even better than I had expected, and I think it still has a huge potential in terms of the current car's performance, given that the facilities in Maranello are maybe the best. Also, the atmosphere in the team is very good, like a big family. The staff are not just workers for the team, they are part of its history."

Ferrari are behind Red Bull in the team standings, and will be looking to catch up. But Sunday's race will be special for the legendary team, 800 and still going strong.

Sebastian Vettel Becomes Youngest F1 Triple World Champion

The 2012 Formula 1 season ended with Sebastian Vettel winning his third world championship in a row, to put the icing on the cake for Red Bull Racing, who already won the Constructors' Championship in the previous race itself.
The final race of the 2012 F1 season was filled with uncertainty and drama. There was rain off and on, and teams were scrambling in between for tire changes and making strategic moves. The all-important question was, who out of Sebastian Vettel or Fernando Alonso would be the world champion for 2012.

Alonso needed to be on the podium to have any mathematical chance of the championship, and that he did by coming second, just behind Jenson Button, braving through the occasional rain and safety car laps. But Vettel's sixth place finish meant that he won the world championship by just 3 points in the end. Vettel started the race ahead of Alonso on the grid, but an early spin put him behind the pack of cars on the track. But he clawed his way back to sixth place by the finish, which was just enough for him to win this year's championship. Another surprise that the Brazilian Grand Prix threw up, was Force India's Nico Hulkenberg leading the race for a good portion of it. A mistake, and probably his only one in the race, saw him spin on the track, which gave him a fifth place finish, otherwise he could have well won Force India's first F1 race ever.

Michael Schumacher finished a credible seventh, in the last race of his two decade-long career. Kimi Räikkönen, racing for Lotus-Renault, finished the race in tenth place, giving him third spot in the world championship, which is a fantastic effort in his comeback year. Felipe Massa finished third at Brazil, giving him his first podium finish since 2008.

The 2013 season that starts in March, has a lot of excitement in store, especially with a few drivers changing teams. Lewis Hamilton moves to Mercedes, Sergio Perez moves to McLaren-Mercedes, Nico Hulkenberg moves to Sauber-Ferrari, a few drivers find themselves without a confirmed contract as yet, while a few teams have a vacant spot that needs to be filled. So in the coming months, we can expect some announcements regarding these.

For now, let's congratulate the youngest ever Formula One triple world champion, Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel.

Formula One 2013 Schedule

The 2013 Formula One season comprises 19 races in all, and is witnessing a battle between 5 former and current world champions.


Formula One is set to take 2013 by storm, with team-driver shuffling, tire specification changes, and regulation alterations, all in a bid to make this year's racing season even more exciting. The Formula One World Championship will be in its 64th year this time round, with 19 races spread across the globe, and 11 participating teams, each with 2 cars on the starting grid. Here is the complete schedule for the 2013 F1 season, followed by the points table.

2013 F1 Calendar

Albert Park
5.303 km (3.295 mi)
16 Turns
Best Lap: Michael Schumacher
(Ferrari - 2004) 1:24.125


Sepang International Circuit
5.543 km (3.444 mi)
15 Turns
Best Lap: Juan Pablo Montoya
(Williams - 2004) 1:34.223

Shanghai International Circuit
5.451 km (3.387 mi)
16 Turns
Best Lap: Michael Schumacher
(Ferrari - 2004) 1:32.238


Bahrain International Circuit
5.412 km (3.363 mi)
15 Turns
Best Lap: Michael Schumacher
(Ferrari - 2004) 1:30.252

Circuit de Catalunya
4.655 km (2.892 mi)
16 Turns
Best Lap: Kimi Räikkönen
(Ferrari - 2008) 1:21.670

Circuit de Monaco
3.340 km (2.075 mi)
19 Turns
Best Lap: Michael Schumacher
(Ferrari - 2004) 1:14.439

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
4.361 km (2.71 mi)
13 Turns
Best Lap: Rubens Barrichello
(Ferrari - 2004) 1:13.622


Silverstone Circuit
5.901 km (3.667 mi)
18 Turns
Best Lap: Fernando Alonso
(Ferrari - 2010) 1:30.874

Nürburgring
5.148 km (3.199 mi)
16 Turns
Best Lap: Michael Schumacher
(Ferrari - 2004) 1:29.468

Hungaroring
4.381 km (2.722 mi)
16 Turns
Best Lap: Michael Schumacher
(Ferrari - 2004) 1:19.071


Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
7.004 km (4.352 mi)
20 Turns
Best Lap: Sebastian Vettel
(Red Bull - 2009) 1:47.263

Autodromo Nazionale Monza
5.793 km (3.600 mi)
11 Turns
Best Lap: Rubens Barrichello
(Ferrari - 2004) 1:21.046


Marina Bay Street Circuit
5.073 km (3.15 mi)
23 Turns
Best Lap: Kimi Räikkönen
(Ferrari - 2008) 1:45.599

Korea International Circuit
5.615 km (3.489 mi)
18 Turns
Best Lap: Sebastian Vettel
(Red Bull - 2011) 1:39.605


Suzuka Circuit
5.807 km (3.609 mi)
17 Turns
Best Lap: Kimi Räikkönen
(McLaren - 2005) 1:31.540


Buddh International Circuit
5.137 km (3.192 mi)
16 Turns
Best Lap: Sebastian Vettel
(Red Bull - 2011) 1:27.249

Yas Marina Circuit
5.554 km (3.451 mi)
21 Turns
Best Lap: Sebastian Vettel
(Red Bull - 2009) 1:40.279

Circuit of the Americas
5.513 km (3.427 mi)
20 Turns
Best Lap: Sebastian Vettel
(Red Bull - 2012) 1:39.347



Autódromo José Carlos Pace
4.309 km (2.676 mi)
15 Turns
Best Lap: Juan Pablo Montoya
(Williams - 2004) 1:11.473

Regulation Changes

These are the rules that have been altered or brought into effect for the 2013 racing season.
With 22 cars competing, 6 get eliminated in Q1, 6 more in Q2, while the remaining ten have a shoot out for the top places on the grid.
Due to safety issues, Drag Reduction System (DRS) will be included at 2 zones on every circuit.
Cars need to be able to return to the pits on their own power during qualifying.
Due to cost-cutting measures introduced, mid-season testing will not be allowed.
All teams do not pay the same entry fee for the season. Teams that scored more points during the 2012 season pay more.
Double DRS has been banned.
2013 will be the final season with the 2.4 liter V8 engine. Next year onward, F1 cars will run on the 1.6 liter turbocharged V6 engine.