Formula One: Key characteristics of each Grand Prix

Image: Jenson Button of Great Britain
Photographs: Clive Mason/Getty Images

The 19-race Formula One season, which starts in Melbourne on March 17, will have no new Grands Prix this year and one fewer than last season following the postponement of New Jersey's debut to 2014.

The following box details each race and its key characteristics.

MARCH 17 - AUSTRALIA

Albert Park street circuit. 58 laps of 5.303km. Total distance 307.574km. 2012 winner: Jenson Button (McLaren). Melbourne has hosted what has become one of the most popular races on the calendar since 1996.

Tags: AUSTRALIA Albert Park , Melbourne , New Jersey , McLaren

Formula One: Key characteristics of each Grand Prix

Image: Fernando Alonso of Spain and Ferrari drives on his way to winning the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 25, 2012 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Photographs: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

MARCH 24 - MALAYSIA

Sepang circuit. 56 laps of 5.543km. Total distance 310.408km. 2012 winner: Fernando Alonso (Ferrari). The hot and steamy Hermann Tilke-designed track, next to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, made its debut in 1999.

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Formula One: Key characteristics of each Grand Prix

Image: ebastian Vettel of Germany and Red Bull Racing drives during the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 15, 2012 in Shanghai, China
Photographs: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

APRIL 14 - CHINA

Shanghai International Circuit. 56 laps of 5.451km. Total distance 305.066km. 2012 winner: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes). Built on a vast, and some might say overwhelming, scale in the shape of the Chinese character 'shang'. On the calendar since 2004.

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Formula One: Key characteristics of each Grand Prix

Image: Kimi Raikkonen of Finland and Lotus leads from team mate Romain Grosjean of France and Lotus during the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit
Photographs: Getty Images

APRIL 21 - BAHRAIN

Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir. 57 laps of 5.412km. Total distance 308.238km. 2012 winner: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull). Another Tilke circuit and the first in the Middle East to host a grand prix in 2004. Civil unrest on the Gulf island has cast a cloud over the race since 2011.

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Formula One: Key characteristics of each Grand Prix

Image: Mark Webber of Australia and Infiniti Red Bull Racing drives during day one of Formula One winter test at the Circuit de Catalunya
Photographs: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

MAY 12 - SPAIN

Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona. 66 laps of 4.655km. Total distance 307.104km. 2012 winner: Pastor Maldonado (Williams). A regular test destination and once the most predictable of circuits, familiar to all teams since 1991.

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Formula One: Key characteristics of each Grand Prix

Image: The field led by Mark Webber of Australia and Red Bull Racing gets underway at the start of the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit de Monaco on May 27, 2012 in Monte Carlo, Monaco
Photographs: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

MAY 26 - MONACO

Monte Carlo. 78 laps of 3.340km. Total distance 260.520km. 2012 winner: Mark Webber (Red Bull). The slowest and shortest race on the calendar but also the most glamorous. Steeped in history, Monaco is the one every driver wants to win.

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Formula One: Key characteristics of each Grand Prix

Image: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Red Bull Racing leads the field into the first corner at the start of the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 10, 2012 in Montreal, Canada
Photographs: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

JUNE 9 - CANADA

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal. 70 laps of 4.361km. Total distance 305.270km. 2012 winner: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren). A popular destination with teams and sponsors since 1978, the circuit is on the Ile Notre-Dame, an artificial island in Montreal's St Lawrence River.

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Formula One: Key characteristics of each Grand Prix

Image: Fernando Alonso of Spain and Ferrari drives on his way to finishing first during qualifying for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit on July 7, 2012 in Northampton, England
Photographs: Clive Mason/Getty Images

JUNE 30 - BRITAIN

Silverstone. 52 laps of 5.891km. Total distance of 306.198km. 2012 winner: Webber. The former World War Two airfield hosted the first F1 championship grand prix in 1950.

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Formula One: Key characteristics of each Grand Prix

Image: Lewis Hamilton (C) of Great Britain and McLaren takes the lead at the first corner during the start of the German Formula One Grand Prix at the Nurburgring on July 24, 2011 in Nuerburg, Germany
Photographs: Clive Mason/Getty Images

JULY 7 - GERMANY

Nuerburgring. 60 laps of 5.148km. Total distance of 308.623km. 2012 winner: Alonso. The original Nordschleife circuit was known as the 'Green Hell' but the current one, used since 1984, is a far more tame affair if still atmospheric.

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Formula One: Key characteristics of each Grand Prix

Image: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and McLaren celebrates after winning the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix at the Hungaroring on July 29, 2012 in Budapest, Hungary
Photographs: Vladimir Rys/Getty Images

JULY 28 - HUNGARY

Hungaroring, Budapest. 70 laps of 4.381km. Total distance 306.630km. 2012 winner: Hamilton. The first race here in 1986 marked Formula One's debut behind what was then the 'Iron Curtain' dividing Europe. Tight, twisty and slow.

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Formula One: Key characteristics of each Grand Prix

Image: Jenson Button of Great Britain and McLaren drives through Eau Rouge on his way to securing pole position during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix at the Circuit of Spa Francorchamps on September 1, 2012 in Spa Francorchamps, Belgium
Photographs: Clive Mason/Getty Images

AUGUST 25 - BELGIUM

Spa-Francorchamps. 44 laps of 7.004km. Total distance 308.052km. 2012 winner: Button. The longest lap on the calendar and one of the fastest circuits, Spa is a blast down memory lane. Often wet, always thrilling for drivers and fans.

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Formula One: Key characteristics of each Grand Prix

Image: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and McLaren drives on his way to winning the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza on September 9, 2012 in Monza, Italy
Photographs: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

SEPTEMBER 8 - ITALY

Monza. 53 laps of 5.793km. Total distance 306.720km. 2012 winner: Hamilton. The temple of Italian motorsport and home of Ferrari, the circuit is the fastest in Formula One. The now disused and crumbling banking dates back to 1922.

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Formula One: Key characteristics of each Grand Prix

Image: Fernando Alonso of Spain and Ferrari drives during practice for the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 21, 2012 in Singapore
Photographs: Clive Mason/Getty Images

SEPTEMBER 22 - SINGAPORE

Marina Bay street circuit. 61 laps of 5.073km. Total distance 309.316km. 2012 winner: Vettel. Formula One's first race run entirely at night, a glamorous and wildly successful fixture since its floodlit debut in 2008.

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Formula One: Key characteristics of each Grand Prix

Image: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and McLaren drives during practice for the Korean Formula One Grand Prix at the Korea International Circuit on October 12, 2012 in Yeongam-gun, South Korea
Photographs: Clive Mason/Getty Images

OCTOBER 6 - SOUTH KOREA

Korea International Circuit, Yeongam. 55 laps of 5.615km. Total distance 308.630km. 2012 winner: Vettel. An anti-clockwise Tilke circuit, located in a shipbuilding centre 370km south-west of Seoul. Attendances have been low since the first 2010 race.

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Formula One: Key characteristics of each Grand Prix

Image: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Red Bull Racing drives on his way to winning the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit on October 7, 2012 in Suzuka, Japan
Photographs: Clive Rose/Getty Images

OCTOBER 13 - JAPAN

Suzuka. 53 laps of 5.807km. Total distance 307.471km. 2012 winner: Vettel. A classic figure of eight layout, owned by Honda and built in 1962 as a test track. Fast, flowing and one of the greatest challenges for any F1 driver.

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Formula One: Key characteristics of each Grand Prix

Image: Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Red Bull Racing leads the field into the first corner at the start of the Indian Formula One Grand Prix at Buddh International Circuit on October 28, 2012 in Noida, India
Photographs: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

OCTOBER 27 - INDIA

Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida. 60 laps of 5.125km. Total distance 307.249km. 2012 winner: Vettel. The first race at the undulating Tilke track south of Delhi was held in 2011 and became an instant hit.

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Formula One: Key characteristics of each Grand Prix

Image: Kimi Raikkonen of Finland and Lotus drives during the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit on November 4, 2012 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Photographs: Vladimir Rys/Getty Images

NOVEMBER 3 - ABU DHABI

Yas Marina. 55 laps of 5.554km. Total distance 305.355km. 2012 winner: Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus). The first day-to-night race made its debut in 2009. A spectacular no-expense-spared Tilke circuit that raised the bar for opulence.

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Formula One: Key characteristics of each Grand Prix

Image: Mark Webber of Australia and Red Bull Racing drives during practice for the United States Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas on November 16, 2012 in Austin, Texas
Photographs: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

NOVEMBER 17 - UNITED STATES

Circuit of the America. Austin, Texas. 56 laps of 5.513km. Total distance 308.405km. 2012 winner: Hamilton. Anti-clockwise and the first purpose-built F1 track in the United States. A massive hit on its debut last year.

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Formula One: Key characteristics of each Grand Prix

Image: Michael Schumacher of Germany and Mercedes GP drives during qualifying for the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 24, 2012 in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Photographs: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

NOVEMBER 24 - BRAZIL

Interlagos, Sao Paulo. 71 laps of 4.309km. Total distance 305.909km. 2012 winner: Button. Dilapidated but hugely atmospheric bowl of a circuit that hosted its first race in 1973. Home of the late Ayrton Senna.

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