Stay ahead of the action this Formula One season with our comprehensive schedule and track guide.
F1 2018 schedule
Australian Grand Prix
When: Sunday March 25
Where: Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit
2017: 1st Vettel 2nd Hamilton 3rd Bottas
The F1 season starts with a race around the streets of Melbourne, as the circuit winds its way around Albert Park Lake in the heart of the city. While a fine spectacle for TV viewers worldwide, the circuit has drawn some criticism for its lack of overtaking opportunities and the difficult in finding a viewing spot for on-site spectators. However, drivers have commented more favourably and the circuit has been kind to home drivers, such as four-time winner Lex Davison and the legendary Jack Brabham.
Bahrain Grand Prix
When: Sunday April 8
Where: Bahrain International Circuit
2017: 1st Vettel 2nd Hamilton 3rd Bottas
The first F1 race to be held in the Middle East and a mainstay of the schedule with the exception of 2011 due to political unrest in the region. So far it has been dominated by the leading teams, Ferrari in particular, and Sebastian Vettel has won the race three times since 2012. There were some concerns over sandstorms in the region but organisers - who have won awards for their management of the Grand Prix - have combated them by spraying an adhesive on track-side sand.
Chinese Grand Prix
When: Sunday April 15
Where: Shanghai International Circuit
2017: 1st Hamilton 2nd Vettel 3rd Verstappen
As with Bahrain and Singapore, the host circuit is designed by Germany's Hermann Tilke - but so far the race has been dominated by Lewis Hamilton, whose five wins far outstrip his nearest rival. Organisers have struggled somewhat to drive attendance figures, resulting in plummeting ticket prices, but despite those concerns the race will remain on the calendar until at least 2020. That's good news for Mercedes, who have won the last four editions.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
When: Sunday April 29
Where: Baku City Circuit
2017: 1st Ricciardo 2nd Bottas 3rd Stroll
Making its debut on the circuit in 2017, the Baku City Circuit is another street layout made up in the nation's capital, Baku. The circuit gained plaudits for its variety but there were some issues with tyre wear. Perhaps it should've been no surprise when, as drivers got to grips with a new layout, this race produced one of the more eclectic podiums of the year as Daniel Ricciardo led home Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll. The latter was the first Canadian to finish on the podium since 2001 and the second-youngest all-time at 18.
Spanish Grand Prix
When: Sunday May 13
Where: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
2017: 1st Hamilton 2nd Vettel 3rd Ricciardo
Having celebrated its centenary in 2013, a race fittingly won by Fernando Alonso, this is one of the oldest races on the calendar and has been homed at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya since the early 1990s. Alonso was in fact the first Spaniard to win here back in 2006, and rediscovered some form in qualifying last year before fading to 12th behind Lewis Hamilton. The Mercedes man trailed Sebastian Vettel for much of the race, but managed to overtake on lap 44 before holding on to reduce his rival's advantage in the World Championship.
Monaco Grand Prix
When: Sunday May 27
Where: Circuit de Monaco
2017: 1st Vettel 2nd Raikkonen 3rd Ricciardo
Surely the most iconic race on the schedule, as drivers wind their way among the casinos, hotels and yachts of Monte Carlo. All of the greats of the sport have won in Monaco, where overtaking is notoriously difficult but does not detract from the spectacle. The race tends to be dominated by the leading teams - although Force India's Sergio Perez made the podium in 2016.
Canadian Grand Prix
When: Sunday June 10
Where: Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
2017: 1st Hamilton 2nd Bottas 3rd Ricciardo
Lewis Hamilton has dominated in Canada to the extent that, with six wins, he's now just one short of Michael Schumacher's record in the race. Hamilton will bid for his fourth in succession come June, in what's traditionally one of the best-viewed races of the season. The main feature of Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is the so called 'Senna S' turns at the start of the lap while the hairpin at turn 10 offers a fine overtaking opportunity.
French Grand Prix
When: Sunday June 24
Where: Circuit Paul Ricard
2017: No race
Back on the calendar for the first time since 2008, Ferrari will be hoping to pick up where they left in the French Grand Prix. Felipe Massa made it three wins in succession for three different Ferrari drivers a decade ago, and all told they've taken the chequered flag 17 times. The track is a familiar one to those within the sport if not new spectators, as it is often used for testing. Long straights and trademark blue and black run-off areas will be familiar to long-time viewers.
Austrian Grand Prix
When: Sunday July 1
Where: Red Bull Ring
2017: 1st Bottas 2nd Vettel 3rd Ricciardo
While Ferrari used to dominate in France, the Austrian Grand Prix has become the domain of Mercedes and was the scene of Valteri Bottas's second victory last season, with team-mate Lewis Hamilton labouring to fourth. Since returning to the calendar in 2014 after more than a decade away, Mercedes have won all four editions to the aggravation of Red Bull, sponsors of the track after funding its reconstruction a decade ago.
British Grand Prix
When: Sunday July 1
Where: Silverstone Circuit
2017: 1st Hamilton 2nd Bottas 3rd Raikkonen
After a frustrating run following his 2008 success, Lewis Hamilton returned to winning ways on home soil in 2014 and has dominated since. Last year, he was utterly dominant ahead of team-mate Valteri Bottas and in doing so cut Sebastian Vettel's championship lead to a solitary point. Vettel has a noticeably poor record at Silverstone, last hitting the podium when third in 2015, his best result since also taking third in 2012. Hamilton will expect to win this race again.
German Grand Prix
When: Sunday July 22
Where: Hockenheimring
2017: No race
Now a biennial race, the German Grand Prix returns for the first time since Lewis Hamilton held off the Red Bulls in 2016. Hamilton extended his championship lead over Nico Rosberg, who had topped the qualifying charts but faded to fourth in the race itself. Hockenheim has undergone many a renovation over the years but remains its recognisable self, winding as it does through the forest.
Hungarian Grand Prix
When: Sunday July 29
Where: Hungaroring
2017: 1st Vettel 2nd Raikkonen 3rd Bottas
Although Sebastian Vettel has won two of the last three editions of the Hungarian Grand Prix, the Hungaroring has been kind to Lewis Hamilton, whose five wins put him ahead of Michael Schumacher on four. Hamilton could only finish fourth last year as Vettel extended his championship lead, however. This race is notorious for providing few overtaking opportunities, but the bumpy nature of the circuit combined with hot conditions can still provide drama.
Belgian Grand Prix
When: Sunday August 26
Where: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
2017: 1st Hamilton 2nd Vettel 3rd Ricciardo
Spa has long been considered one of the stalwarts of the F1 calendar, but renovations were necessary a decade ago to keep apace with an ever-moving sport. It remains a 'driver's track' and perhaps that's why the gifted Kimi Raikkonen boasts four victories here, albeit none since 2009, with Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher the only names ahead of him. Watch out for bad weather, which has so often made for a fascinating spectacle.
Italian Grand Prix
When: Sunday September 2
Where: Autodromo Nazionale Monza
2017: 1st Hamilton 2nd Bottas 3rd Vettel
Long straights and tight chicanes are the hallmark of Monza, a track which remains true to the original design despite going through several small tweaks. Upsets are extremely rare here, with none of note this decade as the established teams, who know precisely what challenges this circuit presents, dominate. There was a break from the norm when Rubens Barrichello won for Brawn, but that was the season of their title success.
Singapore Grand Prix
When: Sunday September 16
Where: Marina Bay Street Circuit
2017: 1st Hamilton 2nd Ricciardo 3rd Bottas
We're now 10 grands prix into Singapore, Fernando Alonso having won the inaugural running back in 2007. This of course was the first night race and it was shrouded in controversy, Alonso's team-mate Nelson Piquet Jr having been ordered to crash so as to prompt a safety car which helped the Spaniard. Since then things have been rather more by-the-book, with Lewis Hamilton taking advantage of carnage in front of him to win from fifth on the grid last year.
Russian Grand Prix
When: Sunday September 30
Where: Sochi Autodrom
2017: 1st Bottas 2nd Vettel 3rd Raikkonen
Four races, four wins for Mercedes so far and on two occasions, it was a one-to for the Silver Arrows. The circuit was built on the site of the Winter Olympics in Sochi and is another designed by Hermann Tilke. It is one of the longest on the F1 calendar and similar in length to Spa and while yet to win the race, Kimi Raikkonen holds the lap record.
Japanese Grand Prix
When: Sunday October 7
Where: Suzuka International Racing Course
2017: 1st Hamilton 2nd Verstappen 3rd Ricciardo
This race has been kind to Lewis Hamilton who has prevailed in three of the last four renewals, including last year when leading home the two Red Bull challengers. Suzuka hosted the first Japanese Grand Prix back in 1963 so it was poignant that this famous race was returned here in 2010, with Sebastian Vettel winning. When Jenson Button triumphed a year later, he wore a special helmet as a tribute to the people affected by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
United States Grand Prix
When: Sunday October 21
Where: Circuit of the Americas
2017: 1st Hamilton 2nd Vettel 3rd Raikkonen
First run in 1908, the United States Grand Prix has been held in Austin since 2012 and its hosting of the event has proven a considerable success. The track is another to have been designed by Hermann Tilke with his brief to produce one of the most challenging and spectacular circuits in the sport. It is a race that has again been dominated by Lewis Hamilton and the Briton made it four wins in succession when winning last year before being awarded the wining trophy by former US president Bill Clinton.
Mexican Grand Prix
When: Sunday October 28
Where: Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
2017: 1st Verstappen 2nd Bottas 3rd Raikkonen
Returning to the schedule in 2015, it was in Mexico that Lewis Hamilton secured the drivers' championship two years later after Sebastian Vettel could only finish fourth, despite securing pole. The circuit itself has drawn comparisons with Monza, largely due to a fast final corner and long straight. Prior to victory for Red Bull's Max Verstappen last year, the race had been dominated by Mercedes with Nico Rosberg winning from Lewis Hamilton in 2015, before Hamilton got the better of his team-mate and rival a year later.
Brazilian Grand Prix
When: Sunday November 11
Where: Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace
2017: 1st Vettel 2nd Bottas 3rd Raikkonen
The Brazilian Grand Prix was first held at Interlagos in 1972 and following a hiatus, returned to his original home when Alain Prost prevailed in 1990. Ayrton Senna was victorious in his own country a year later and it is a race that has been won by five other Brazilians over the years. Prost holds the record for number of wins in the race with six while Micheal Schumacher has triumphed four times. Interlagos has always been renowned as being one of the most challenging on the circuit to drive and 2015 produced a incident-packed race with a number of accidents.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
When: Sunday November 25
Where: Yas Marina Circuit
2017: 1st Bottas 2nd Hamilton 3rd Vettel
A fixture on the Formula One calendar since its inception in 2009 when also becoming the first ever day-night Formula One race. That first running was won by Sebastian Vettel and he has proved victorious twice since, leaving him on the same number of wins as rival Lewis Hamilton. The race is sponsored by Etihad Airways and The Yas Marina Circuit circuit, which was designed by Hermann Tilke, is based on Yas Island.
Teams & drivers
Ferrari
Sebastian Vettel & Kimi Raikkonen
Force India
Sergio Perez & Esteban Ocon
Haas
Romain Grosjean & Kevin Magnussed
McLaren
Stoffel Vandoorne & Fernando Alonso
Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton & Valteri Bottas
Red Bull
Daniel Ricciardo & Max Verstappen
Renault
Nico Hulkenberg & Carlos Sainz Jr
Sauber
Marcus Ericsson & Charles Leclerc
Toro Rosso
Pierre Gasley & Brendon Hartley
Williams
Lance Stroll & Sergey Sirotkin
How the 2017 season finished
- Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 363pts
- Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 317
- Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 305
- Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 205
- Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull 200
- Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 168
- Sergio Perez (Mex) Force India 100
- Esteban Ocon (Fra) Force India 87
- Carlos Sainz (Spa) Renault 54
- Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Renault 43
- Felipe Massa (Bra) Williams 43
- Lance Stroll (Can) Williams 40
- Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 28
- Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 19
- Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren 17
- Stoffel Vandoorne (Bel) McLaren 13
- Jolyon Palmer (Gbr) Renault 8
- Pascal Wehrlein (Ger) Sauber-Ferrari 5
- Daniil Kvyat (Rus) Scuderia Toro Rosso 5
- Marcus Ericsson (Swe) Sauber-Ferrari 0
- Pierre Gasly (Fra) Scuderia Toro Rosso 0
- Antonio Giovinazzi (Ita) Haas F1 0
- Brendon Hartley (Nzl) Scuderia Toro Rosso 0
- Jenson Button (Gbr) McLaren 0
- Paul di Resta (Gbr) Williams 0
