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'''Formula One''' (F1) is often considered the pinnacle of [[automobile]] [[racing]]. It is the highest class of car racing with speeds topping 200 mph. The Formula One World Championship is held every year on racing tracks on every continent except [[North America]]. The Championship is given not only to the winning driver after all 17 races but also to the winner car manufacturer. The current Driver's World Champion is [[British]] racer Lewis Hamilton, while the Constructor's Champions are [[Italian]] designers Ferrari.

'''Formula One''' (F1) is often considered the pinnacle of [[automobile]] [[racing]]. It is the highest class of car racing with speeds topping 200 mph. The Formula One World Championship is held every year on racing tracks on every continent except [[North America]] and [[Africa]]. The Championship is given not only to the winning driver after all 17 races but also to the winner car manufacturer. The current Driver's World Champion is [[British]] racer Lewis Hamilton, while the Constructor's Champions are [[Italian]] designers Ferrari.

==Teams==

==Teams==

The teams in the 2009 season are;

The teams in the 2009 season are;

*'''[[Vodafone]] [[McLaren]] [[Mercedes]]''', founded in 1966, are the third most successful team in the sport's history, having won the constructors' title 8 times. Their present drivers are the World Champion, Lewis Hamilton ([[Great Britain]]), and [[Finland|Finnish]] driver Heikki Kovalainen. The team uses [[Mercedes]] engines and are sponsored by mobile phone company [[Vodafone]].

*'''[[Vodafone]] [[McLaren]] [[Mercedes]]''', founded in 1966, are the third most successful team in the sport's history, having won the constructors' title 8 times. Their present drivers are the World Champion, Lewis Hamilton ([[Great Britain]]), and [[Finland|Finnish]] driver Heikki Kovalainen. The team uses [[Mercedes]] engines and are sponsored by mobile phone company [[Vodafone]].

*'''Scuderia [[Ferrari]] [[Marlboro]]''', who first competed in the second ever Formula One race at [[Monaco]] in 1950, are the most famous and most successful team in the history of Formula One, and present constructor's champions. They have been won the constructors' championship 16 times, mainly as a result of the dominance of [[Michael Schumacher]], the driver with the most championship wins in the sport's history. The team's present drivers are the 2007 champion, Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) and 2008 runner-up, Felipe Massa ([[Brazil]]). Following Massa's fractured skull in a crash in the Hungarian Grand Prix, former test diver Luca Badoer ([[Italy]]), who last raced in 1999 and has never scored a point, will drive from the European Grand Prix onwards.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8186319.stm BBC Sport - Schumacher calls off F1 comeback]</ref>. The team uses [[Ferrari]] engines and are sponsored by [[cigarette]] company [[Marlboro]].

*'''Scuderia [[Ferrari]] [[Marlboro]]''', who first competed in the second ever Formula One race at [[Monaco]] in 1950, are the most famous and most successful team in the history of Formula One, and present constructor's champions. They have been won the constructors' championship 16 times, mainly as a result of the dominance of [[Michael Schumacher]], the driver with the most championship wins in the sport's history. The team's present drivers are the 2007 champion, Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) and 2008 runner-up, Felipe Massa ([[Brazil]]). Following Massa's fractured skull in a crash in the Hungarian Grand Prix, former test diver Luca Badoer ([[Italy]]), who has never scored a point, raced in the European and Belgian Grand Prix,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8186319.stm BBC Sport - Schumacher calls off F1 comeback]</ref>, before being replaced by [[Italy|Italian]] Giancarlo Fisichella, who has won three races in his career. The team uses [[Ferrari]] engines and are sponsored by [[cigarette]] company [[Marlboro]].

*'''[[BMW]] [[Sauber]] F1 Team''', founded in 2006, finished third in the 2008 championship. The team's present drivers are Robert Kubica ([[Poland]]), who has won one race, and [[Germany|German]] driver Nick Heidfeld. The team uses [[BMW]] engines and are sponsored by oil and gas company [[Petronas]]. The team has announced that it will leave F1 following the 2009 season<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8173865.stm BBC Sport - BMW to quit F1 at end of season]</ref>.

*'''[[BMW]] [[Sauber]] F1 Team''', founded in 2006, finished third in the 2008 championship. The team's present drivers are Robert Kubica ([[Poland]]), who has won one race, and [[Germany|German]] driver Nick Heidfeld. The team uses [[BMW]] engines and are sponsored by oil and gas company [[Petronas]]. The team has announced that it will leave F1 following the 2009 season<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8173865.stm BBC Sport - BMW to quit F1 at end of season]</ref>, however Sauber have been brought by a [[Switzerland|Swiss]] company, Qadbak Investments Limited, and will be the first team in should one of the other teams pull out.

*'''[[ING]] [[Renault]] F1 Team''', who replaced [[Bennetton]] in 2002, have won two constructors' titles. The team has at present only one driver, twice-world champion, Fernando Alonso ([[Spain]]) as Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr, the son of three-time world champion Nelson Piquet, was dismissed following the Hungarian Grand Prix<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8166688.stm BBC Sport - Piquet Jr dropped by Renault team]</ref>. The team uses [[Renault]] engines and are sponsored by the bank ING.

*'''[[ING]] [[Renault]] F1 Team''', who replaced [[Bennetton]] in 2002, have won two constructors' titles. The teams drivers, twice-world champion, Fernando Alonso ([[Spain]]) and [[France|Frenchman]] Romain Grosjean, who replaced Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr, the son of three-time world champion Nelson Piquet, following the Hungarian Grand Prix<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8166688.stm BBC Sport - Piquet Jr dropped by Renault team]</ref>. The team uses [[Renault]] engines and are sponsored by the bank ING. The team has recently been accused of deliberatly crashing a car during the Singapore Grand Prix.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8258987.stm BBC Sport - Briatore out over Renault fix row]</ref>

*'''[[Panasonic]] [[Toyota]] Racing''', founded in 2002, have never won the championship. The team's present drivers are Jarno Trulli ([[Italy]]), who has won one race, and [[Germany|German]] Timo Glock. The team uses [[Toyota]] engines and are sponsored by electronics company [[Panasonic]]

*'''[[Panasonic]] [[Toyota]] Racing''', founded in 2002, have never won the championship. The team's present drivers are Jarno Trulli ([[Italy]]), who has won one race, and [[Germany|German]] Timo Glock. The team uses [[Toyota]] engines and are sponsored by electronics company [[Panasonic]]

*'''Scuderia [[Red Bull|Toro Rosso]]''', who replaced the [[Minardi]] team in 2006, are a "farm" team for Red Bull Racing, but managed to beat their parent team in 2008. The team's drivers are 2009 debutante, Sebastien Buemi ([[Switzerland]]) and [[Formula 3]] champion Jaime Alguersuari ([[Spain]]), who replaced [[France|Frenchman]] Sebastien Bourdais following the 2009 German Grand Prix. The team uses Ferrari engines and are sponsored by beverage company [[Red Bull]].

*'''Scuderia [[Red Bull|Toro Rosso]]''', who replaced the [[Minardi]] team in 2006, are a "farm" team for Red Bull Racing, but managed to beat their parent team in 2008. The team's drivers are 2009 debutante, Sebastien Buemi ([[Switzerland]]) and [[Formula 3]] champion Jaime Alguersuari ([[Spain]]), who replaced [[France|Frenchman]] Sebastien Bourdais following the 2009 German Grand Prix. The team uses Ferrari engines and are sponsored by beverage company [[Red Bull]].

*'''[[Red Bull]] Racing''', who replaced the [[Jaguar]] team in 2005, have won three races. The team's current drivers are Mark Webber ([[Australia]]) who has won one race, and Sebastien Vettel (Germany), who moved for the 2009 season from Toro Rosso, and won one race while at STR. He won another two races with RBR in 2009. The team uses Renault engines, and, like Toro Rosso, are sponsored by Red Bull.

*'''[[Red Bull]] Racing''', who replaced the [[Jaguar]] team in 2005, have won three races. The team's current drivers are Mark Webber ([[Australia]]) who has won one race, and Sebastien Vettel (Germany), who moved for the 2009 season from Toro Rosso, and won one race while at STR. He won another two races with RBR in 2009. The team uses Renault engines, and, like Toro Rosso, are sponsored by Red Bull.

*'''[[AT&T]] [[Williams]]''', founded in 1977, are the second most successful team in F1's history, having won the constructors' title 9 times. However, they have not won the title since 1997. The team's present drivers are Nico Rosberg (Germany) and Kazuki Nakajima (Japan). The team uses Toyota engines and are sponsored by communications company [[AT&T]].

*'''[[AT&T]] [[Williams]]''', founded in 1977, are the second most successful team in F1's history, having won the constructors' title 9 times. However, they have not won the title since 1997. The team's present drivers are Nico Rosberg (Germany) and Kazuki Nakajima (Japan). The team uses Toyota engines and are sponsored by communications company [[AT&T]].

*'''[[Force India]] F1 Team''', who replaced the [[Spyker]] team in 2008, are yet to score a point in Formula One. The team's present drivers are Italian Giancarlo Fisichella, who has won three races in his career, and Adrian Sutil (Germany). The team uses Mercedes engines and are sponsored by Indian airline [[Kingfisher]].

*'''[[Force India]] F1 Team''', who replaced the [[Spyker]] team in 2008, scored their first points at the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix. The team's present drivers are Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi, who replaced Giancarlo Fisichella when the latter replaced Luca Badoer at Ferrari, and Adrian Sutil (Germany). The team uses Mercedes engines and are sponsored by Indian airline [[Kingfisher]].

*'''[[Brawn GP]] F1 Team''', who replaced the [[Honda]] team in 2009, are one of the few teams in history to win their debut race, having won the Australian Grand Prix in 2009. They have since won a further five races, and presently lead the World Championship Tables. The team's present drivers are Jenson Button (Great Britain), who has won seven races, six while with Brawn, and Rubens Barricello (Brazil), who is the most experienced driver in the 2009 season and has won a total of 9 races. The team uses Mercedes engines and are sponsored by the [[Virgin Group]].

*'''[[Brawn GP]] F1 Team''', who replaced the [[Honda]] team in 2009, are one of the few teams in history to win their debut race, having won the Australian Grand Prix in 2009. They have since won a further seven races, and presently lead the World Championship Tables. The team's present drivers are Jenson Button (Great Britain), who has won seven races, six while with Brawn, and Rubens Barricello (Brazil), who is the most experienced driver in the 2009 season and has won a total of 11 races. The team uses Mercedes engines and are sponsored by the [[Virgin Group]].

==2009 Race Schedule==

==2009 Race Schedule==

# [[Germany|German]] GP, held at the [[Nürburgring]] on July 12. Won in 2009 by Mark Webber and Red Bull

# [[Germany|German]] GP, held at the [[Nürburgring]] on July 12. Won in 2009 by Mark Webber and Red Bull

# [[Hungary|Hungarian]] GP, held in [[Budapest]] on July 26. Won in 2009 by Lewis Hamilton and McLaren

# [[Hungary|Hungarian]] GP, held in [[Budapest]] on July 26. Won in 2009 by Lewis Hamilton and McLaren

# [[Europe|European]] GP, held in [[Valencia]], [[Spain]] on August 23.

# [[Europe|European]] GP, held in [[Valencia]], [[Spain]] on August 23. Won in 2009 by Rubens Barrichello and Brawn GP

# [[Belgium|Belgian]] GP, held in [[Spa Francorchamps]] on August 30.

# [[Belgium|Belgian]] GP, held in [[Spa Francorchamps]] on August 30. Won in 2009 by Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari

# [[Italy|Italian]] GP, held in [[Monza]] on September 13.

# [[Italy|Italian]] GP, held in [[Monza]] on September 13. Won in 2009 by Rubens Barrichello and Brawn GP

# [[Singapore]] GP, held in [[Singapore]] on September 27. Unlike most races this race is held at night.

# [[Singapore]] GP, held in [[Singapore]] on September 27. Unlike most races this race is held at night.

# [[Japan]]ese GP, held in [[Suzuka]] on October 4.

# [[Japan]]ese GP, held in [[Suzuka]] on October 4.