Formula 1: 10 things you should know about the 2012 F1 calendar

The Turkish Grand Prix will no longer be a part of the F1 calendar

The 2012 F1 Calendar was officially unveiled by the World Motorsport Council(WMSC) this past Wednesday. For the first time in history, 20 races will be held in the upcoming 2012 Formula One season. A few races which are a part of the ongoing 2011 season have been chopped while some old Grands Prix are back. Here are the ten important things that you should know about the revamped 2012 Formula 1 calendar:

1. 2012 F1 season – The BIGGEST of them all:

For the first time, after 62 years of F1 racing, the 2012 F1 season will breach the 20 race mark. The 2011 season was originally supposed to contain 20 races, but due to the cancellation of Bahrain Grand Prix it was shortened to 19. Incidentally 19 races has been the highest in a particular F1 season so far (in 2005, 2010 & 2011). From just 7 races in the inaugural 1950 season to 20 scheduled races in 2012, F1 has grown bigger and better over the years.

2. Season opener in AUSTRALIA and final race in BRAZIL:

Similar to the 2011 season, 2012 F1 season will kick off from the Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia on 18th March and will conclude at Interlagos, Sa0 Paulo, Brazil on 25th November. Inbetween them, there will be a staggering duration of 257 days during which the drivers and the teams will give their all to succeed in those races.

3. Bahrain is BACK:

The Bahrain Grand Prix, which was shelled out for the 2011 season due to political unrest in the country, will be back in 2012. But it will not be the inaugural race. Instead, the WMSC has squeezed the Bahrain weekend between the Chinese and Spanish weekends.

4. TURKEY terminated:

This was an expected move by the F1 and WMSC. The Turkish Grand Prix will not feature in the 2012 season. The main reason for this move by the F1 group is the disinterest from the crowd, which turned out in very low numbers for the races over the past few years which led to financial losses. This announcement means that the F1 fans will not get to see their favorite drivers drive through the famous turn 8 of the Istanbul Park circuit, in the foreseeable future. What a shame!

The famous turn 8 of the Istanbul Park

5. German Grand Prix in HOCKENHEIM:

Unlike the 2011 season in which the German Grand Prix was held at Nurburgring, the 2012 German Grand will return back to its original location – Hockenheim. The last time when the German Grand Prix was held at Hockenheim was in 2010 when the Ferrari team orders controversy marred Fernando Alonso‘s victory in the race.

6. INDIAN Grand Prix maintains October slot:

The 2012 Airtel Grand Prix of India will also be held in the October 28-30 slot

Amidst much speculation that the Indian race will be held in April, the WMSC has announced that there will be no change in slot for the Indian Grand Prix. It will maintain its October 28-30 slot. This news will be a huge relief for the Indian Grand Prix organisers who were worried about the probability of hosting the race in the sweltering April heat.

7. A North American F1 GP after THREE YEARS:

The US Grand Prix is back!

Wonderful news for North American F1 fans. Formula One returns to North America in 2012 after a three year hiatus with the United States Grand Prix scheduled to be helt at the Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas in November 2012. The last time an United States Grand Prix was held was in 2009 when Indianapolis hosted the race.

8. SIX back-to-back Grand Prix weekends:

The 2012 season promises to be the most gruelling F1 season of all times for the drivers and the team personnel. It is because of the fact there will be six back-to-back race weekends come 2012. Here are those weekends:

• Australia and Malaysia (March 18 & 25)
• China and Bahrain (April 15 & 22)
• Germany and Hungary (July 22 & 29)
• Belgium and Italy (September 2 & 9)
• Japan and Korea (October 7 & 14)
• USA and Brazil (November 18 & 25)

9. Provision for in-season TESTING:

Unlike the 2011 season, provision for in-season testing has been made in the 2012 calendar. According the calendar, in-season testing may be allowed during the period of March 23 to April 13, between the Bahrain and Spanish weekends, subject to FIA approval.

10. Extended SUMMER BREAK of five weeks:

F1 will have an extended summer break of five weeks in the 2012 season. There was a four week summer break in the 2011 season. According the scheduled calendar, this summer break will be between the 11th race in Hungary and the subsequent race in Belgium. The break will include an entire August month during which the teams will be prohibited from any kind of testing or practice.

The 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship Calendar:

18/03	AUS	Australia
25/03	MYS	Malaysia
15/04	CHN	China
22/04	BAH	Bahrain
13/05	ESP	Spain
27/05	MCO	Monaco
10/06	CAN	Canada
24/06	EUR	Europe(Valencia)
08/07	GBR	Great Britain
22/07	DEU	Germany(Hockenheim)
29/07	HUN	Hungary
02/09	BEL	Belgium
09/09	ITA	Italy
23/09	SGP	Singapore
07/10	JPN	Japan
14/10	KOR	Korea
28/10	IND	India
04/11	ARE	Abu Dhabi
18/11	USA	United States
25/11	BRA	Brazil