March 16, 2008
Laps: 58
Circuit Length: 5.303 km
Lap Record: 1:24.125 - M Schumacher (2004)

Season opener Albert Park is a street race that is rarely free of incidents as drivers go head-to-head for the first time after a five-month break.

The roads encircling Albert Park Lake are transformed once a year bringing in attendances of around 300,000.

The race to the first corner has produced some major accidents over the years, most notably in 2002 when a collision between Ralf Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello wiped out nearly half the field, leaving the door open for Mark Webber to bring home his ultra uncompetitive Minardi in fifth place.

March 23, 2008
Laps: 56
Circuit Length: 5.543 km
Lap Record: 1:34.223 (Juan Pablo Montoya - 2004)

The second race of the season is at the super modern Sepang International Circuit. Although a relatively young circuit, it has quickly become the benchmark for other Grand Prix venues.

Sepang International Circuit was designed by respected German designer, Hermann Tilke, who went on to design many of the new circuits on the F1 calendar that followed in Shanghai, Bahrain and Turkey.

Sweeping corners make up most of the 5.54km circuit, but the track also has two very unusually long straights separated by a single hairpin.

The newly-built Bahrain International Circuit hosted its first F1 race in 2004 after fighting off stiff competition from other regions in the Middle East to hold the prestigious event.

Traditionally the third race in the calendar, the Bahrain Grand Prix became the season opener in 2006 in place of Australia, which had been pushed back due to the Commonwealth Games.

The construction of the track began in 2002 and soon after its completion, Bahrain International became the centre of motor racing in the Gulf, hosting such events as GT races, Formula 3 and the Australian V8 Supercar Series.

Situated just north of Barcelona, the Circuit De Catalunya is home to the Spanish Grand Prix. With its long straights and varying corners, Barcelona, as it’s known to race fans despite the fact it is located in Montmelo, is one of the sport’s most important testing grounds.

Unfortunately teams and drivers have become all too familiar with the circuit and shock results are few and far between.

Changes were made to the layout in 2007 to improve overtaking by adding a slow chicane just before the final corner, although it has done little to improve things.

Although notorious for its lack of overtaking opportunities, it was the scene for one of F1's greatest battles as Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell went head-to-head in 1991.

Regarded as the "best race track in the world" by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, Istanbul Park made its debut onto the F1 calendar in 2005.

Located in Pendick, Istanbul Park is one of only two of the season’s circuits that run anti-clockwise – the other being Interlagos, Brazil.

Turn eight is the highlight of the track with four fast sweeping apexes which can make or break a lap time.

A sharp left-hander at turn one is another noteable point on the track and has been nicknamed the ‘Turkish Corkscrew’ by some, after Laguna Seca’s similar turn.

The most iconic race on the F1 calendar is the Monaco Grand Prix. While the glitz and the glamour make for a spectacle, the race itself rarely offers much in the way of overtaking so qualifying usually dictates the outcome.

The tight street circuit has its masters though. Graham Hill, the 'master of Monaco' and Michael Schumacher both have tasted victory five times. Neither, however, surpassed the late great Ayrton Senna’s incredible six wins in just seven years between 1987 and 1993.

Situated on a man-made island in the St Lawrence River, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has hosted the Canadian Grand Prix since 1977.

The track is named after the legendary Ferrari driver who tragically lost his life in a huge crash during qualifying at the Belgian Grand Prix, but not before he made history by becoming the first Canadian to win a world championship grand prix at his home circuit.

The race is also well known for the famous “Wall of Champions” that greets drivers as they exit the final chicane. Former F1 champions Michael Schumacher, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve have suffered at its hands, hence its name.

It’s not surprising to hear that the birthplace of motor racing also has the longest standing affiliation with Grand Prix, hosting its first race in 1906 at Le Mans.

Since 1991 it has been held at Magny-Cours after French President Mitterrand backed the redevelopment of the track.

Unfortunately, Magny-Cours is an uninspiring circuit that produces one of the sleepiest races of the year with overtaking a rarity.

July 6, 2008
Laps: 60
Circuit Length: 5.141 km
Lap Record: 1:18.739 - M Schumacher (2004)

On the site of a former World War Two bomber airfield, the British Grand Prix was first held in 1950 and up until 1987 shared the hosting of the event with Aintree and Brands Hatch.

Silverstone’s fast, flowing circuit can make for a real spectacle as fans witness the awesome capabilities of an F1 car, but unforunately overtaking is limited.

A clean run into the first corner can provide the greatest overtaking opportunity, but with 21 other drivers trying to do the same it’s very easy to get bogged down and lose momentum in a corner that, in normal race conditions, rarely sees drivers lift off the gas.

Doubts were raised as to the future of the circuit as Bernie Ecclestone pushed for the Government to offer more financial support but with the arrival of Lewis Hamilton on to the F1 scene, the circuit seems to be as secure as ever – at least for now.

Driver safety has dictated many changes to the Hockenheim circuit to the point where the new layout bares little resemblance to the old one, although the famous stadium section remains after Herman Tilke’s redesign.

Overtaking again is limited but a very long back straight leading up to the tight Spitzkehre hairpin provides the best opportunity.

Through the height of Michael Schumacher’s reign, Germany easily maintained attendances for both Hockenheim and the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring, however since his retirement numbers have diminished and the two circuits now share the race.

August 3, 2008
Laps: 70
Circuit Length: 4.381 km
Lap Record: 1:19.071 - M Schumacher (2004)

Hungaroring was home to the Eastern bloc’s first ever race in 1986 and featured the battle of the Brazilians as Nelson Piquet went up against, and defeated fellow countryman Ayrton Senna.

It’s also the home of British driver, Jenson Button’s only race victory while driving a relatively competitive BAR Honda.

Getting the right aerodynamic setup is essential as cars run up close and personal in the circuit’s unyielding environment, which was dubbed as "a street circuit without the houses" by ITV commentator Martin Brundle.

A brand new harbourside street circuit will be the venue for the second Spanish race of the year.

Back-to-back championship titles for Fernando Alonso have turned a country, once struggling with attendances, into one of world’s most passionate.

The layout of the street circuit will offer up an array of chicanes and hairpins but will also boast fast sweeping sections. Drivers will also have to negotiate a swing bridge that spans Valencia’s canal system.

This year marks a very welcome return to the F1 calendar to one of Formula One’s best – Spa-Francorchamps.

It doesn’t take long to realise just how good Spa is when drivers put foot to floor and dive into turns three, four and five – known as Eau Rouge. Okay, it’s maybe not as hair-raising as years gone by due to advancements in technology, but it still remains one of the real wow moments of the season.

The rest of the track doesn’t disappoint either, with fast flowing corners that blend into one another through to the lush forest that surrounds it, Spa-Francorchamps certainly is one of F1's finest.

Monza, the spiritual home of Ferrari and their passionate fans the Tifosi, was the fitting venue for Michael Schumacher to announce his retirement from Forumla One in 2006.

In 1928 the track was much different consisting of a 4.5km high-speed oval and 5.5km road section and was the venue for the worst motor racing accident in Italian history which ended in the death of driver Emilio Materassi and 27 spectators.

Three deaths during one race in 1933 sparked more changes to the layout and Monza began to resemble the circuit we see today.

High-speed straights are now separated by slow chicanes breaking up some the smooth flow of the track but despite that, Monza remains one of the most important races of the season - if not for the racing itself then for the incredible atmosphere that the passionate Italian fans generate year in year out.

In an age where green issues dominate the headlines, it’s surprising to see the birth of two new night races in major motorsport. The first of course was the Moto GP season opener at Qatar and the second is the new night race on the streets of Singapore.

To create near daylight visibility Qatar had enough floodlighting to light up 70 football pitches, and the plans are to create the same effect at Singapore.

If Qatar is anything to go by it will be one of the most impressive sights in F1 history, but the question of whether it will make for a great race remains to be seen.

As with Monaco and Valencia, the race will take place around Singapore’s Bay area, sweeping along the harbourside and through the city streets.

Fuji Speedway takes the place of the immensely popular Suzuka Circuit for the second year running in after heavy lobbying from the circuit’s owner, Toyota.

Last year’s rain sodden Japanese Grand Prix looked like the title clincher for Britain’s Lewis Hamilton as he extended his lead of the drivers’ championship to 12 points with just two races to go as he cruised home to victory after bitter rival, Fernando Alonso, crashed out of the race.

This has seemed to silence the doubters who questioned whether Fuji could deliver the quality of racing often seen at Suzuka, although the real test will come on a dry track.

The penultimate race of the season is in the beautiful city of Shanghai. China hosted its first race in 2004 much to the delight of Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosely and of course China itself, which had been campaigning for nine years to host the prestigious event.

Shanghai Circuit, built on the site of a swamp and whose entire track foundation is made out of polystyrene blocks, is another of Herman Tilke’s famous designs and overtaking opportunities are aplenty.

In its short life the circuit is probably most famous for the moment when Lewis Hamilton’s season came tumbling down as he got caught in a gravel trap in the entrance to the pit lane after staying out on severely worn tyres. Hamilton and McLaren will be hoping to put those demons to bed this time around.

An inexperienced head and a stroke of bad luck cost Lewis Hamilton the title here last year, but he certainly isn't the first to have watched his championship hopes slip away on the final day and won't be the last.

As with Istanbul Park in Turkey, this circuit is one of only two to run in an anti-clockwise direction.

Drivers must have their hearts in their mouths as they charge down the claustrophobic home straight into the first corner, the Senna S.

The track may be bumpy and the facilities dated but this circuit is steeped in history.

Through the 70s, 80s and 90s legends such as Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna have all taken championships here and the hopes of the fans must rest heavily on the shoulders of today's young drivers, Felipe Massa and now Nelson Piquet Jnr.