*** Official Formula One 2015 Season Thread ***

[Donger]

I realize that many Americans aren't Formula One fans, but I'm hoping that this thread will generate some new interest in this wonderful formula of racing. We've had a United States Grand Prix off and on over the years, but the USGP now has a (hopefully) permanent home at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin.

Here's a primer on the formula:

The FIA Formula One World Championship (also Formula One, or F1) is the highest class of single-seat auto racing that is sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The "formula", designated in the name, refers to a set of rules with which all participants' cars must comply. The F1 season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix (from French, originally meaning great prizes), held throughout the world on purpose-built circuits and public roads. The results of each race are evaluated using a points system to determine two annual World Championships, one for the drivers and one for the constructors. The racing drivers, constructor teams, track officials, organisers, and circuits are required to be holders of valid Super Licences, the highest class of racing licence issued by the FIA.

Formula One cars are the fastest road course racing cars in the world, owing to very high cornering speeds achieved through the generation of large amounts of aerodynamic downforce. Formula One cars race at speeds of up to 360 km/h (220 mph) with engines currently limited in performance to a maximum of 15,000 RPM. The cars are capable of lateral acceleration in excess of five g in corners. The performance of the cars is very dependent on electronics – although traction control and other driving aids have been banned since 2008 – and on aerodynamics, suspension and tyres. The formula has radically evolved and changed through the history of the sport.

And, here's the schedule for the 2015 season:

The following twenty Grands Prix are currently scheduled to take place in 2015.

Round Grand Prix Circuit Date

1 Australian Grand Prix Australia Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne 15 March
2 Malaysian Grand Prix Malaysia Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur 29 March
3 Chinese Grand Prix China Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai 12 April
4 Bahrain Grand Prix Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir 19 April
5 Spanish Grand Prix Spain Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona 10 May
6 Monaco Grand Prix Monaco Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo 24 May
7 Canadian Grand Prix Canada Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal 7 June
8 Austrian Grand Prix Austria Red Bull Ring, Spielberg 21 June
9 British Grand Prix United Kingdom Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone 5 July
10 German Grand Prix To be announced[68][69] 19 July
11 Hungarian Grand Prix Hungary Hungaroring, Budapest 26 July
12 Belgian Grand Prix Belgium Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot 23 August
13 Italian Grand Prix Italy Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza 6 September
14 Singapore Grand Prix Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore 20 September
15 Japanese Grand Prix Japan Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka 27 September
16 Russian Grand Prix Russia Sochi Autodrom, Sochi 11 October
17 United States Grand Prix United States Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas 25 October
18 Mexican Grand Prix Mexico Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City 1 November
19 Brazilian Grand Prix Brazil Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo 15 November
20 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi 29 November

Here is a link to channels and times for the GPs. Most are shown on NBCS:

http://www.foxsports.com/motor/schedule?circuit=1