ISTANBUL
Formula 1 roars into action this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday.
The new season will start with the practice and qualifying laps in Albert Park, Melbourne on Saturday at 07:00 CET (0600 GMT).
There will be 20 Grand Prix this season in Formula 1. New season will end on November 29 with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Mexican Grand Prix was added to the Formula 1 schedule with the 18th race of the season to be held in Mexico City between October 30 and November 1.
Schedule of the new season:
|
Grand Prix
|
City
|
Track
|
Date
|
|
1. Australia
|
Melbourne
|
Albert Park
|
March 15
|
|
2. Malaysia
|
Kuala Lumpur
|
Sepang
|
March 29
|
|
3. China
|
Shangai
|
Shangai
|
April 12
|
|
4. Bahrain
|
Manama
|
Bahrain
|
April 19
|
|
5. Spain
|
Barcelona
|
Catalunya
|
May 10
|
|
6. Monaco
|
Monte Carlo
|
Monaco
|
May 24
|
|
7. Canada
|
Montreal
|
Gilles Villeneuve
|
June 7
|
|
8. Austria
|
Spielberg
|
Spielberg
|
June 21
|
|
9. Great Britain
|
Northhamptonshire
|
Silverstone
|
July 5
|
|
10. Germany
|
|
|
July 19
|
|
11. Hungary
|
Budapest
|
Hungaroring
|
July 26
|
|
12. Belgium
|
Spa
|
Spa-Francorchamps
|
August 23
|
|
13. Italy
|
Monza
|
Monza
|
September 6
|
|
14. Singapore
|
Singapore
|
Marina Bay
|
September 20
|
|
15. Japan
|
Suzuka
|
Suzuka
|
September 27
|
|
16. Russia
|
Sochi
|
Sochi
|
October 11
|
|
17. USA
|
Austin
|
Circuit of the Americas
|
October 25
|
|
18. Mexico
|
Mexico City
|
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
|
November 1
|
|
19. Brazil
|
Sao Paulo
|
Jose Carlos Pace
|
November 15
|
|
20. Abu Dhabi
|
Abu Dhabi
|
Yas Marina
|
November 29
|
German Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg won the Australian Grand Prix last season. McLaren Mercedes' Danish driver Kevin Magnussen was runner-up and British teammate Jenson Button came in third.
This season 20 drivers from 12 countries will be competing. Latest winner Lewis Hamilton will race for Mercedes again while four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel went to Ferrari from Red Bull.
Having raced for Ferrari last year, Fernando Alonso will drive for McLaren Mercedes this season.
In addition four teams – Mercedes, Lotus, Force India and Williams – kept their drivers.
McLaren Mercedes will assign their backup driver from Denmark, Kevin Magnussen for Australian Grand Prix since their new driver Fernando Alonso has been injured during pre-season tests. Alonso will join the races after getting recovered.
Several drivers have changed their teams before the new season. In addition to Vettel and Alonso, Marcus Ericsson and Daniil Kvyat have each changed their teams. Ericsson went to Sauber while Kvyat joined Red Bull.
Four new drivers, Carlos Sainz Jr. and Max Verstappen (Toro Rosso), Felipe Nasr (Sauber) and Roberto Merhi (Manor Marussia) will make their debuts.
Drivers and their teams for 2015 F1 Season:
Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain), Nico Rosberg (Germany)
Red Bull: Daniel Ricciardo (Australia), Daniil Kvyat (Russia)
Ferrari: Sebastian Vettel (Germany), Kimi Raikkonen (Finland)
McLaren Mercedes: Jenson Button (Great Britain), Fernando Alonso (Spain)
Force India: Nico Hulkenberg (Germany), Sergio Perez (Mexico)
Toro Rosso: Max Verstappen (Netherlands), Carlos Sainz Jr. (Spain)
Lotus: Romain Grosjean (France), Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela)
Sauber: Marcus Ericsson (Sweden), Felipe Nasr (Brazil)
Williams: Felipe Massa (Brazil), Valtteri Bottas (Finland)
Manor Marussia: Will Stevens (Great Britain), Roberto Merhi (Spain)
