User talk:Bduddy/Archive/2012 July

Formula One, abbreviated to F1, is the highest class of open-wheeled auto racing defined by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), motorsport's world governing body. The "formula" in the name refers to a set of rules to which all participants and vehicles must conform. The F1 World Championship season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix, held usually on purpose-built circuits, and in a few cases on closed city streets.

The first Grand Prix was held in 1950 at Silverstone; since then 68 circuits have hosted a Grand Prix. Circuits such as the Nürburgring have hosted Grands Prix using different configurations. The first race at the circuit used the 22 kilometres (14 mi) circuit, but concerns over safety meant that more recent Grands Prix have used a shorter, safer circuit. F1 circuits were predominately in Europe during the early years of the championship, as the sport has expanded so has the location of its circuits. New circuits have been used in Asia and America, the change has been a recent occurrence. Of the 20 circuits that will host a Grand Prix in 2012, nearly half were not on the calendar before 1999.

The Autodromo Nazionale Monza has hosted the most Grands Prix; it has been used as the circuit for the Italian Grand Prix 61 times. The only season it did not host a race was in 1980, when the Italian Grand Prix was held at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. The most recent circuit to have hosted a Grand Prix was the Buddh International Circuit, which hosted the Indian Grand Prix in 2011. The Circuit of the Americas is set to become the latest different circuit to host a Grand Prix; when the United States Grand Prix is staged there in 2012, at Austin, Texas. The Pescara Circuit is the longest circuit to have hosted a Grand Prix. The 25.800 km (16.031 mi) long circuit normally held the Coppa Acerbo race, it hosted one World Championship race, the 1957 Pescara Grand Prix.

As some circuits have hosted Grands Prix using different configurations, the most recent configuration used is listed in the table below.

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• Friday Practice 1 – Hamilton sets the Montreal benchmark
• Friday Practice 2 – Hamilton heads Ferrari duo
• Saturday Practice – Vettel pips Alonso in Montreal
• Qualifying – Vettel cruises to Canada pole
• Race – Seventh time lucky for Hamilton in Canada

• * Pastor Maldonado (10th, + 34.630) was given a 20-second time penalty post-race for causing a collision with Lewis Hamilton, and for failing to rejoin the track in a safe manner. Maldonado penalised over Hamilton clash
• Friday Practice 1 – Maldonado sets Valencia standard
• Friday Practice 2 – Vettel leads tight Valencia field
• Saturday Practice – Button edges charging Lotuses
• Qualifying – Vettel bests the rest to secure Valencia pole
• Race – Alonso triumphs in Valencia thriller