Description
F1 gets ready to go back to school
Motor sport’s governing body the FIA has confirmed the 2015 FIA Formula One World Championship. The 20 race calendar will criss-cross the globe with Bahrain hosting the championship’s fourth round at the Bahrain International Circuit on April 17-19.
Mexico joins the calendar and swells the ranks to equal the largest number of events in a championship since the early 90s. Korea briefly returned to the calendar but is now officially removed while the race at Sakhir follows the opening round in Australia, Malaysia and China.
On the back of an enthralling season, Formula One is set for another highly competitive year. However, the sport is not without its difficulties at the moment with the closing months of 2014 seeing a number of teams struggling for funds. Marussia ceased trading before the end of the season and failed to complete the last three races and with their final race in Japan overshadowed by the shocking accident involving Frenchman Jules Bianchi. Bianchi, now home in France, still remains critically ill but is receiving rehabilitation therapy .
Despite failing to race in Austin and Sao Paulo the Caterham team managed to make it to Abu Dhabi for the final race but is still under administration and hopeful of securing a new owner to allow it to return to the tracks in 2015. It remains to be seen if the team will make it.
The driver line-up is complete with notable changes being four times World Champion Sebastian Vettel leaving Red Bull for Ferrari and Fernando Alonso leaving the “Prancing Horse” for a return to McLaren. Partnering the Spaniard will be Jenson Button. The 2009 World Champion will start his sixteenth season in the sport and will be relieved to have got the nod ahead of former team-mate Kevin Magnussen after a long wait to reveal his future in the sport. The team will notably debut Honda power in Australia.
Young drivers who will be making their debuts in Australia include 17 year old Max Verstappen, son of former Benetton, Arrows and Stewart driver Jos and Carlos Sainz Jnr, the son of legendary double World Rally Champion Carlos Snr. Both will drive at Toro Rosso making it the team with the least experience but the highest profile in terms of Rookie drivers!
The Championship’s long road starts in Melbourne on March 15th and finishes in Abu Dhabi on November 29th.
The 2015 calendar in full:
15/03 Australia
29/03 Malaysia
12/04 China
19/04 Bahrain
10/05 Spain
24/05 Monaco
07/06 Canada
21/06 Austria
05/07 Britain
19/07 Germany
26/07 Hungary
23/08 Belgium
06/09 Italy
20/09 Singapore
27/09 Japan
11/10 Russia
25/10 USA
01/11 Mexico
15/11 Brazil
29/11 Abu Dhabi
And of course Pitbull's live performance is another reason for all to get your tickets early! You will not want to miss Mr Worldwide performing live!
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