TheSportsCampus

Twenty races is what the 2011 Formula 1 season promises, as we get set to roll the brand new cars out of the factories and onto the tarmac at Valencia. The season will undoubtedly be a treat for the fans, and while the odd driver and team might grumble about the increased work load, longer season and less money to spend per race, most are happy to have come through a recession year largely unscathed with money still available to fund the sport. The flipside always remains more television revenue and an increased popularity of the sport in nascent and growing markets.

The season has been expanded due to the introduction of the Indian Grand Prix. While the fanatical Indian supporters are desperately hoping that it take off, everyone is well aware that the first step is the approval of the track by the inspection team of the FIA. With India already reeling from the Commonwealth Games fiasco and Kolkata being recently stripped of a Cricket World Cup game by the ICC due to an incomplete stadium, nobody can be sure of projects finishing on schedule, despite the track record of the highly professional Jaypee Group. The news has been largely positive till this point and fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that they will finally get to witness the debut of Formula 1 in India.

After a few seasons of having had to play second (last) fiddle, the Brazilian Grand Prix is back at its rightful place as the 2011 season finale. We think that's a great move by the FIA, as the venue has a lot of history attached to it and almost always produces some exciting finishes. 

Bahrain's much criticized extra 900 meter loop has been removed and Sakhir has reverted to the original circuit. The 5.4 km circuit had been expanded to 6.3 kms last season to celebrate F1's golden jubilee. It was not appreciated much by drivers and has been promptly removed for the 2011 season.

*    Chinese Grand Prix will only go through if the repairs demanded by the FIA are done on time.

**   Indian Grand Prix is also awaiting the green signal from the FIA once the track is completed.

Testing Schedule for 2011 season is as follows:-
Valencia, Spain ------    1st - 3rd February
Jerez, Spain      ------    10th - 13th February
Barcelona, Spain -----    18th - 21st February
Barcelona, Spain  -------   8th - 11th March 

Highlights :-

• The order of the Turkish, Monaco and Spanish GPs have been changed from 2010. In 2010, the Spanish GP was 5th, the Monaco GP was 6th and Turkish GP was the 7th race in the season, while this time Turkey is the 5th stop, still followed by Barcelona and Monaco.
• Also, Abu Dhabi and Brazillian GPs have been swapped this year with the season ending in Brazil.