Formula 1 season kicks off this weekend with Bahrain Grand Prix

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) - The 2022 Formula 1 season will kick off this weekend with the season-opener Bahrain Grand Prix over three months after the end of the 2021 season.

The 57-lap Bahrain GP will be run at the Bahrain International Circuit on a track nearly 5.4 kilometers (3.3 miles) long, located in the desert region of Sakhir, 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from the capital and largest city Manama.

The qualifying round will be held at 1500 GMT on Saturday and the race will start at the same time on Sunday.

The 2022 schedule currently sits at 22 races after September's event at the Sochi Autodrom was canceled due to the eruption of the Russia-Ukraine war on Feb. 24.

There will be two races in the US this season, the Aramco United States Grand Prix on Oct. 21-23 and the F1's first-ever Miami Grand Prix on May 6-8.

This season will mark a return for the Grand Prix of Australia, Canada, Japan, and Singapore on the F1 calendar after two years of absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the Turkish, Portuguese, and Styrian (Austria) Grands Prix were not included on the list as they were part of the 2021 plan.

Meanwhile, Red Bull's Max Verstappen grabbed his first Formula 1 world title, beating Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes with a last-lap move sealing the victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last season.

Heading into the 2022 season, British driver Hamilton and legendary racer Michael Schumacher hold the record for the most world drivers' titles, both having clinched the title on seven occasions.

- Haas ends Russian driver Mazepin's contract amid war

The teams strengthened their squad ahead of the new F1 season with new drivers.

Danish driver Kevin Magnussen returned to the Haas team to replace sacked driver Nikita Mazepin on a multi-year deal.

Magnussen will replace the Russian driver, whose contract was terminated because of his country's war against Ukraine.

Valtteri Bottas from Finland signed up to Alfa Romeo for the 2022 season after a five-year stint with the Mercedes team.

Mercedes chose George Russell as a replacement for Bottas from the 2022 Formula One season.

Also, Thailand's Alex Albon, who is a two-time podium finisher, joined Williams.

Verstappen is set to stay on the team until the end of 2028 after he extended his long-term contract

The 2022 F1 World Championship calendar is as follows:

- March 20: Bahrain Grand Prix, Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir

- March 27: Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, Jeddah Street Circuit, Jeddah

- April 10: Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne

- April 24: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy

- May 8: Miami Grand Prix, Miami International Autodrome, Miami

- May 22: Spanish Grand Prix, Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona

- May 29: Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo Circuit

- June 12: Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku City Circuit

- June 19: Canadian Grand Prix, Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal

- July 3: British Grand Prix, Silverstone, England

- July 10: Austrian Grand Prix, Red Bull Ring, Spielberg

- July 24: French Grand Prix, Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet

- July 31: Hungarian Grand Prix, Hungaroring, Mogyorod

- Aug. 28: Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps, Francorchamps

- Sep. 4: Dutch Grand Prix, Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort

- Sep. 11: Italian Grand Prix, Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza

- Oct. 2: Singapore Grand Prix, Marina Bay, Singapore

- Oct. 9: Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka Circuit, Ino, Suzuka City

- Oct. 23: United States Grand Prix, Circuit of the Americas, Austin

- Oct. 30: Mexican Grand Prix, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City

- Nov. 13: Brazilian Grand Prix, Interlagos, Sao Paulo

- Nov. 20: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi