Fast fact 1
This year’s FIA Formula 1 world championship will take place over a grand total of 1129 laps. That’s a distance of 5795km and an average of 59.6 laps and 305km per grand prix
Fast fact 2
The 2010 season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix will be run on the 6.3km Endurance Circuit, rather than the 5.4km Grand Prix Circuit which has been used for the last six years
Fast fact 3
At 6.3km, Bahrain is the second longest track on the 2010 F1 calendar. The longest is the 7km Spa-Francorchamps circuit, home to the Belgian Grand Prix. The shortest is the 3.3km street circuit in Monte Carlo, used for the Monaco Grand Prix
Fast fact 4
With 49 laps, the Bahrain Grand Prix is the second shortest race of 2010 in terms of laps. The Belgian Grand Prix at the 7km long Spa-Francorchamps take place over just 44 laps, while the Monaco Grand Prix takes place over 78-laps of the short 3.3km street circuit
Fast fact 5
Although the Bahrain Grand Prix is second shortest race on the 2010 Formula 1 calendar for laps it’s the sixth longest race distance at 308km. The longest race is the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang at 310km, while the shortest is the Monaco Grand Prix at 260km
Fast fact 6
There is 0.001km difference (just 1 metre) between the length of the Australian Grand Prix and the Japanese Grand Prix. The Melbourne race is the longer at 307.574km
Fast fact 7
The Korean Grand Prix at Yeongam in late October is a new addition to the Formula 1 calendar for 2010. The Canadian Grand Prix at Montreal returns after a year’s sabbatical, while the German Grand Prix returns to Hockenheim after a year at the Nurburgring
Fast fact 8
Just five of this year’s 17 grands prix take place on anti-clockwise circuits, placing unique strain on the drivers’ necks. The anti-clockwise tracks are Istanbul Park in Turkey, the street circuit in Singapore, the new Yeongam venue in Korea, Sao Paulo in Brazil, and the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi
Fast fact 9
Although the Suzuka circuit, which plays host to the Japanese Grand Prix, is a clockwise track, it actually has more left-hand turns (similar to an anti-clockwise track) thanks to its unique figure-of-eight layout
Fast fact 10
There are four winners of Formula 1’s drivers’ championship on this year’s grid – 2009 and 2008 title winners Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton at McLaren, 2006 and 2005 champion Fernando Alonso at Ferrari, and seven-times champion Michael Schumacher at Mercedes GP
Fast fact 11
Michael Schumacher is the ‘oldest’ champion on the 2010 Formula 1 grid, having scored the first of his seven titles 16 years ago, back in 1994. He’s also the oldest driver by age, being 41 years old
Fast fact 12
The only former drivers’ champion from the last 10 years not to be on the 2010 grid is 2007 title winner Kimi Raikkonen, who has opted for a new career in the World Rally Championship.
Fast fact 13
The 2008 Formula 1 drivers’ championship was the eighth to be decided by just one point. The others were: 2007, 1994, 1981, 1976, 1964, 1961 and 1958
Fast fact 14
There are four new teams due to take part in Formula 1 this year – Virgin Racing, Lotus, Campos Meta and US F1. There’s also a new look for 2009 constructors’ champions, Brawn GP – now Mercedes GP, thanks to its acquisition by the German auto firm
Fast fact 15
Jenson Button's victory in the 2009 season-opening Australian Grand Prix was the first using slick tyres since McLaren’s Mika Häkkinen won the 1997 European GP at Jerez, Spain. Tyres featuring grooves to reduce grip were used for the 12 years in between
Fast fact 16
Four of the five drivers who have won the Formula 1-supporting GP2 feeder series are racing in F1 this year – inaugural 2005 title winner Nico Rosberg at Mercedes GP, 2006 champion Lewis Hamilton at McLaren, 2007 victory Timo Glock at Virgin Racing and 2009’s reigning champion Nico Hulkenberg at Williams
Fast fact 17
The lap records of 12 of the 17 circuits on the 2010 Formula 1 calendar have stood since 2004, the final year of the 3.0-litre V10 engine formula before it was replaced by 2.4-litre V8s. The exceptions are Catalunya in Spain and Suzuka in Japan, while Istanbul Park in Turkey, Valencia (which hosts the European Grand Prix), Singapore and the season-ending Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi are all new to F1 since then