Grand Prix Circuits

BAHRAIN
Lap Length: 5.412KM
Lap Record: 1.20.252 M Schumacher 2004
Sakhir Circuit Characteristics: Technical with a real mix of corners and more undulations than you might think. Seting up the cars is tricky there as there is also the long home straight (almost a mile) to consider, where engine power and low downforce are a big help for overtaking. Drivers have to cope with extreme heat in the cockpit and the desert winds can have a major effect on the cars handling. There are 15 turns in all, six left-handers and nine right-handers.

SPAIN
Lap Length: 4.655 KM
Lap Record: 1.22.680 F Massa 2007
Circuit De Catalunya Barcelona Characteristics: A well balanced car that works well aerodynamically in fast corners is essential. To put it mildly overtaking opportunities are not plentiful, with the best chance of moving up coming from running lower downforce to enable passing at the end of the long home straight. However the fact that the last eight winners of the Spanish Grand Prix have started from Pole Position probably says it all.

MONACO
Lap Length: 2.075 Miles
Lap Record: 1.14.439 M Schumacher 2004
Circuit De Monaco, Monte Carlo Characteristics: The only street circuit left in Formula 1, overtaking is virtually impossible. Top-end speed is much less important than grip and acceleration away from the slow corners, but a powerful engine helps up the steep inclines in the early part of the lap.. Driver ability can make a real difference at this track, which suits former Karting stars Jarno Trulli, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.


CANADIAN
Lap Length: 2.709 Miles
Lap Record: 1.13.622 R Barrichello 2004
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal Canada Characteristics: Engine Power is vitalfor a series of long, high-speed straights interrupted by chicanes and connected by a number of slow speed corners. Brake-wear is extremely high.

TURKEY
Lap Length: 5.338 KM
Lap Record: 1.24.770 JP Montaya 2005
Istanbul Speed Park Characteristics: Still relatively new, Istanbul Speed Park is a rare left-hand circuit which challanges drivers with its wide range of corners, undulations and a number of turns with blind exits