FACTBOX-Motor racing-Formula One calendar and details for 2019

The 2019 Formula One world championship starts on March 17 with 21 races in a season that ends later than any since 1963. The following are key details (start times 1310 GMT unless stated).

- - - - MARCH 17 - AUSTRALIA

Albert Park street circuit, Melbourne. 58 laps of 5.303km. Total distance 307.574km. 0510 GMT start (1610 local). 2018 pole position: Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes. 2018 winner: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Ferrari. Melbourne has hosted the Australian GP since 1996.

- MARCH 31 - BAHRAIN

Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir. 57 laps of 5.412km. 308.238km. 1510GMT (1810 local). 2018 pole and winner: Vettel. Desert track 30km south-west of Manama. The race has a day-to-night format under floodlights.

- APRIL 14 - CHINA

Shanghai International Circuit. 56 laps of 5.451km. 305.066km. 0610GMT (1410 local). 2018 pole: Vettel. Winner: Daniel Ricciardo (Australian) Red Bull. Built in the shape of the Chinese character "shang", the circuit has hosted a race since 2004. This year's will be Formula One's 1,000th grand prix.

- APRIL 28 - AZERBAIJAN

Baku City Circuit. 51 laps of 6.003km. 306.049km. 1210GMT (1610 local). 2018 pole: Vettel. Winner: Hamilton. New in 2016, the race has earned a reputation for thrills against a backdrop of the historic old town and long seaside promenade.

- MAY 12 - SPAIN

Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona. 66 laps of 4.655km. 307.104km. 2018 pole and winner: Hamilton. Venue for pre-season testing. On the calendar since 1991.

- MAY 26 - MONACO

Monte Carlo. 78 laps of 3.337km. 260.286km. 2018 pole and winner: Ricciardo. The slowest and shortest race but also the most glamorous. -

JUNE 9 - CANADA Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal. 70 laps of 4.361km. 305.270km. 1810 GMT (1410 local). 2018 pole and winner: Vettel.

An F1 favourite since 1978, the circuit is named after the late Ferrari great and father of 1997 world champion Jacques and is on the Ile Notre Dame in the St Lawrence River. -

JUNE 23 - FRANCE Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet. 5.861km. 309.690km. 2018 pole and winner: Hamilton.

The circuit returned last year as the first French Grand Prix since 2008, when the race was held at Magny-Cours. -

JUNE 30 - AUSTRIA Red Bull Ring, Spielberg. 71 laps of 4.318km. 306.452km. 2018 pole: Bottas. Winner: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Red Bull).

A rural circuit in the southern Styria region, not far from Graz, and owned by Red Bull. -

JULY 14 - BRITAIN Silverstone. 52 laps of 5.891km. 306.198km. 2018 pole: Hamilton. Winner: Vettel.

A former World War Two airfield, the first world championship grand prix was held here in 1950. This year's race is the last under the current contract. -

JULY 28 - GERMANY Hockenheim. 67 laps of 4.574km. 306.458km. 2018 pole: Vettel. Winner: Hamilton.

The track was heavily modified in 2002, with a long forest stretch removed. Also out of contract after this year. -

AUG 4 - HUNGARY Hungaroring, Budapest. 70 laps of 4.381km. 306.670km. 2018 pole and winner: Hamilton.

The first race in 1986 was a breakthrough for F1 behind the 'Iron Curtain'. The circuit is tight, twisty and slow. -

SEPT 1 - BELGIUM Spa-Francorchamps. 44 laps of 7.004km. 308.052km. 2018 pole: Hamilton. Winner: Vettel.

The longest lap on the calendar and one of the fastest circuits. Often wet, always thrilling. -

SEPT 8 - ITALY Monza. 53 laps of 5.793km. 307.029km. 2018 pole: Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari. Winner: Hamilton.

"La Pista Magica" is the temple of Italian motorsport and Ferrari. Dates back to the 1920s but still the fastest in F1. -

SEPT 22 - SINGAPORE Marina Bay street circuit. 61 laps of 5.065km. 308.828km. 1210GMT (2010 local). 2018 pole and winner: Hamilton.

On the calendar since 2008 as the sport's first night race. -

SEPT 29 - RUSSIA Sochi street circuit. 53 laps of 5.848km. 309.745km. 1110GMT (1410 local). 2018 pole: Bottas. Winner: Hamilton.

The race made its debut in 2014, with the circuit looping around the park built for the Winter Olympics. -

OCT 13 - JAPAN Suzuka. 53 laps of 5.807km. 307.471km. Race start 0510 GMT (1410 local). 2018 pole and winner: Hamilton.

A classic fast figure-of-eight circuit, owned by Honda with a funfair alongside. Always a passionate crowd. -

OCT 27 - MEXICO Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City. 71 laps of 4.304km. 305.354km. Race start 1910 GMT (1310 local). 2018 pole: Ricciardo. Winner: Verstappen.

Returned to the calendar in 2015. Has won the award for best grand prix of the season for the past four seasons but this year's could be the last with state funding set to be withdrawn. -

NOV 3 - UNITED STATES Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. 56 laps of 5.513km. 308.405km. Race start 1910 GMT (1310 local). 2018 pole: Hamilton. Winner: Raikkonen.

Anti-clockwise layout with 20 turns. -

NOV 17 - BRAZIL Interlagos, Sao Paulo. 71 laps of 4.309km. 305.909km. Race start 1710 GMT (1510 local). 2018 pole and winner: Hamilton.

Atmospheric anti-clockwise circuit, home of the late triple champion Ayrton Senna. -

DEC 1 - ABU DHABI Yas Marina. 55 laps of 5.554km. 305.355km. 2018 pole and winner: Hamilton. Race start 1310 GMT (1710 local).

Day-to-night anti-clockwise race under floodlights. 

(With inputs from agencies.)