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Australia March
7th-9th Melbourne Albert Park Circuit |
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Malaysia March
21st-23rd Kuala Lumpur Sepang Circuit |
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Brazil April
4th-6th Sao Paulo Interlagos |
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San Marino April
18th-20th Imola, Circuit Enzo E Dino Ferrari |
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Spain May
2nd-4th Barcelona Circuit de Catalunya |
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Austria May
16th-18th Spielberg A1 Ring |
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Monaco May
29th-June 1st Monaco Monte Carlo |
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Canada June
13th-15th Montreal, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve |
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Europe June
27th-29th Germany Nurburgring |
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France July
4th-6th Nevers Magny-Cours |
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Great Britain July
18th-20th Northampton Silverstone Circuit |
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Germany August
1st-3rd Hockenheim Hockenheimring |
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Hungary August
22nd-24th Budapest Hungaroring |
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Italy September
12th-14th Monza Autodrome |
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United States September
26th-28th Indianapolis Motor Speedway |
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Japan October
10th-12th Suzuka Suzuka Circuit |
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Melbourne’s smooth, low grip surface makes it
a circuit that is heavy on breaks, with traction at a premium. Typically,
grip levels increase over the weekend and the cars are quicker in the race
then they are in qualifying. Circuit
length: 5.302km Race Distance:
58 laps/307.574km 2002 pole
position: Rubens Barrichello 2002 winner: Michael
Schumacher (Grid 2) |
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The circuit offers a good mix of corners and
an 800m straight and provides car-friendly grip levels. One factor which is
always important is the weather which is very unpredictable and can change
from one lap to the next. Circuit length: 5.543km Race Distance 56 laps/310.408km 2002 pole
position: Michael Schumacher 2002 winner: Ralf
Schumacher (Grid 4) |
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The notoriously bumpy Interlagos is tough on
cars and drivers. The anti-clockwise lap puts a lot of strain on the drivers
neck and back. There is the fast outfield and the slow infield sections to
set the cars up for. Circuit
length: 4.309km Race Distance: 71 laps/305.909km 2002 pole
position: Juan Pablo Montoya 2002 winner: Michael
Schumacher (Grid 2) |
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The first European race of the season. There
is a mix of short straights and chicanes which requires good traction and
minimal understeer. The suspension must be supple enough to ride the tricky
kerbs. Circuit length: 4.933km Race Distance:
62 laps/305.609km 2002 pole
position: Michael Schumacher 2002 winner Michael
Schumacher |
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Aerodynamic efficiency is vital to achieve
maximum performance on the long straight and through the high speed corners.
The high abrasive track surface makes this a race this is hard on tyres,
especially the front left. Circuit
length: 4.730km Race Distance: 65 laps/307.323km 2002 pole
position: Michael Schumacher 2002 winner: Michael
Schumacher |
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Set in the Austrian Alpine countryside. The
challenge for engineers lies in getting a well balanced car. The high
altitude and low atmospheric pressure results in engines losing about 10% of
their full power! Circuit
length: 4.326km Race Distance: 71 laps/307.146km 2002 pole
position: Rubens Barrichello 2002 winner: Michael
Schumacher (Grid 2) |
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The streets of Monte Carlo play host to
Formula One’s ‘glamour event’. The circuit isn't a racing circuit– for one
week the tight and narrow streets of this rich city are closed and racing
begins! High down force needed. Circuit
length: 3.370km Race Distance: 78 laps/262.860km 2002 pole
position: Juan Pablo Montoya 2002 winner: David
Coulthard (Grid 2) |
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A real car breaker circuit, damaging breaks
due to long straights followed by slow corners. A low down force set-up is
used and cars can reach up to 320km/h on the longest straight with many
chicanes along the way. Circuit
length: 4.361km Race Distance: 70 laps/305.270km 2002 pole
position: Juan Pablo Montoya 2002 race winner: Michael
Schumacher (Grid 2) |
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The 2002 race saw a new stadium complex
replacing the original first corner making the circuit longer and providing a
new overtaking spot into turn 1. The circuit requires middle down force
settings for the cars. Circuit
length: 5.146km Race Distance: 60 laps/308.743km 2002 pole
position: Juan Pablo Montoya 2002 winner: Rubens
Barrichello (Grid 4) |
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The super slick track surface allows cars to
be set-up low and stiff which helps in the chicanes but takes its toll on the
tyres. Finding the right balance is hard as the track can change at different
temperatures. Circuit
length: 4.251km Race Distance: 72 laps/305.886km 2002 pole
position: Juan Pablo Montoya 2002 winner: Michael
Schumacher (Grid 2) |
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The home venue for many of the teams is
usually struck by bad weather. For the set-up the car must be responsive to
rapid direction changes, have good traction and is stable through the slow
speed corners. Circuit
length: 5.141km Race Distance: 60 laps/308.356km 2002 pole
position: Juan Pablo Montoya 2002 winner: Michael
Schumacher (Grid 3) |
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In 2002 F1 cars no longer raced through the
Hockenheim forests at over 340km/h as the long straights were gone and a new
twisty infield section appeared meaning medium down force is now required. Circuit length: 4.574km Race Distance: 67 laps/306.458km 2002 pole
position: Michael Schumacher 2002 winner: Michael
Schumacher |
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The track is very dusty making it slippy
throughout the whole weekend. Overtaking is almost impossible here meaning
that a good grid slot and a good start are vital. High down force needed for
the slow corners. Circuit
length: 3.975km Race Distance: 77 laps/306/075km 2002 pole
position: Rubens Barrichello 2002 winner: Rubens
Barrichello |
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All you need for Monza is speed! This is the
fastest race of the year as shown by Montoya in 2002 as he set the fastest F1
lap ever here. Cars run hardly any down force and as a results reach 345km/h!
Circuit length: 5.763km Race Distance:
53 laps/306.719km 2002 pole
position: Juan Pablo Montoya 2002 winner: Rubens
Barrichello (Grid 4) |
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The US F1 circuit uses part of the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway circuit with cars reaching 330km/h at the end of
the straight following the banked curve. A slow infield means set-up has to
be compromised. Circuit
length: 4.192km Race Distance: 73 laps/306.016km 2002 pole
position: Michael Schumacher 2002 winner: Rubens
Barrichello (Grid 2) |
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Suzuka is a complex circuit requiring a lot of
skill and a stable car with good traction and medium to high down force. The
circuit has a unique figure of eight layout where the track crosses over
itself. Circuit length: 5.821km Race Distance:
53 laps/308.5317km 2002 pole
position: Michael Schumacher 2002 winner: Michael
Schumacher |
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Home I Top I 2003 season © F1iNews 2003 Editor: Chris Smith |