This is the definitive weekend for Michael Schumacher. In front of his home fans, he'll surely want to put on a good show, and this is a track he is comfortable with.

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AP Photo/Burhan OzbiliciAn exceptional qualifying effort will be a must for seven-time F1 champ Michael Schumacher at Hockenheim.

The seven-time world champion has won the Grand Prix of Germany at Hockenheim four times (most of any Formula One driver), with three of those victories coming since the revamped track opened in 2002. He'll need the fastest of cars to compete with the likes of McLaren and Red Bull, and a good qualifying effort is imperative; no driver has won at Hockenheim from beyond the third starting position since 2000. Under the new layout, only once has a winner emerged from behind the front row (Fernando Alonso started third in 2005). It is a tall task for Schumacher these days, but a podium finish seems more likely here than anywhere else for the German.

Another driver who could definitely use a boost is Felipe Massa. Coming off three consecutive finishes of 11th or worse, the Brazilian will be looking to avoid some history Sunday. If he finishes outside the top 10, he'd be the first Ferrari driver to do so in four straight single-season races since Eddie Irvine in 1996. He'll likely avoid that dubious honor, though, as in two races here with Ferrari, he's checked in second in 2006 and third in 2008.

Most consecutive finishes worse than 10th (single season by Ferrari drivers since 2000)
2010 -- Felipe Massa -- Three*
2002 -- Rubens Barrichello -- Three
2000 -- Michael Schumacher -- Three
* active streak

After fighting back from a poor grid position in Great Britain, Jenson Button will be hunting for an outright win at Hockenheim. He finished second there in 2004 driving for BAR and third in 2005. If he were to taste victory, he would move into ninth on F1's all-time points list, ahead of Nigel Mansell.

True, Button has been aided by a revamped system this year, but up through 2009, the points payout was very similar to the systems in place throughout the past few decades. Even without his points earned this season, Button would still rank among the top 20, ahead of names such as Carlos Reutemann. For now, it's impressive company, but if the current points system continues to be utilized, climbing the list will of course become a mere afterthought.

Button certainly has been heating up lately, outgaining all but teammate Lewis Hamilton in points over the past four events. Indeed, those four races starting with Turkey have gone a long way in determining the standings.

Most points earned past four races
Driver -- Points -- Driver standings
Lewis Hamilton -- 86 -- First
Jenson Button -- 63 -- Second
Mark Webber -- 50 -- Third
Sebastian Vettel -- 43 -- Fourth

Hockenheim's history has taken the course of a few other Formula One circuits. Often considered one of the more dangerous tracks, the old layout had straightaways broken up only by several chicanes. By 2002, those straights were gone and a new layout was devised. The circuit is still very quick but is considerably shorter in length (now just 4½ kilometers). Today, the old section of the track has been returned to the earth, much like the fate of Monza and Fuji's old, banked high-speed ovals.

It's a track that has wounded title hopes, including those of Kimi Raikkonen, Ralf Schumacher and Barrichello in 2003. All three entered the race among the top five in driver points but were caught in an accident in the opening corner of the race. Raikkonen ended up losing the title by two points, the same margin that eventual champion Michael Schumacher came away with in Germany.

While there are still nine races left on the 2010 calendar, it's worth noting that British drivers occupy the top two spots in the world championship standings. If that holds true through the rest of the season, it would be the first time that British drivers finished first and second since 1968, when Graham Hill claimed his final title and Jackie Stewart finished runner-up. That year also saw the first victory for British entry McLaren. It was a particularly tumultuous season, as Hill's teammate and fellow Brit Jim Clark was killed in a Formula Two race at Hockenheim.

Sunday marks the six-year anniversary of Schumacher's win in Germany, his 11th win in the first 12 races of the 2004 season. Times have certainly changed, as Schumacher would go on to clinch the drivers' title with a remarkable four races to spare that year. This year, a podium finish would probably feel like a win, especially on home turf. Then again, it may end up being another German in Vettel who steals the spotlight.

There's nothing like a win to make the strongest statement possible.

Red Bull continues to be the center of attention in the Formula One world, and Silverstone was no exception. Mark Webber was clearly motivated to win Sunday after he saw his state-of-the-art front wing transferred to teammate Sebastian Vettel's car before the race. Competing in Vettel's old chassis, Webber nevertheless dominated, and it was clear sailing after Vettel had to pit following his disastrous first lap.

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Mark Thompson/Getty ImagesMark Webber, winless in his first seven seasons in F1, scored his fifth career victory at Silverstone.

In a week where even Red Bull boss Christian Horner predicted that the McLaren duo of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button might be facing a feud later this year, it is Red Bull that now must manage tempers. No doubt the team will do everything possible to maintain cool heads before it gets anywhere close to the likes of Hamilton and Fernando Alonso in 2007.

For Webber, it was his fifth career F1 win, nine shy of Jack Brabham's mark for most victories by an Australian driver. One must admire Webber's persistence, as after seven seasons without a victory to start his career, he's now firmly shed any winless notions. The Australian is one of only three drivers to win multiple F1 races after going winless in his first seven seasons, and he may match Rubens Barrichello's 11 wins sooner rather than later.

Most F1 wins by drivers winless in their first seven seasons
Rubens Barrichello -- 11
Mark Webber -- 5
Giancarlo Fisichella -- 3

Lost in the shuffle might possibly be the story of a man who saved his season. While Vettel found himself with his worst finish of the year, not including retirements, he battled back from a nightmare start to the race. After pitting early, Vettel was lapping in last position, but he did not pit for the rest of the day and eventually made his way back into the points. In the late stages, Vettel overtook Michael Schumacher and Adrian Sutil to earn six points. Considering that the World Championship has come down to a single point in two of the past three seasons, every place counts.

Hamilton's 2008 and 2010 numbers through 10 races
Category -- 2008 -- 2010
Wins -- 4 -- 2
Podiums -- 6 -- 6
Fastest laps -- 0 -- 2
Races earning points -- 7 -- 9

Hamilton was pleased with his runner-up finish Sunday, as he should be; his performance this season is rivaling his 2008 title campaign.

While Hamilton's win total is fewer, he's on pace in regard to podium finishes. He has posted more fastest race laps and been more consistent overall, earning points in nine of the first 10 races while avoiding a classified retirement (although he did not finish at Catalunya).

A driver who continues to impress has been Kamui Kobayashi. The Ferrari-powered Sauber has shown more reliability lately, and Kobayashi has taken advantage, finishing sixth at Silverstone after a seventh-place result at Valencia. It's an amazing turnaround considering the 23-year-old managed to complete just 19 laps in his first four grand prix events of 2010. Over his last four races, however, Kobayashi has compiled more points than Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa.

Hockenheim, site of the Grand Prix of Germany on July 25, will again favor the quick pace of Red Bull and McLaren. The old track was scary fast, even with chicanes, but the newer layout of this circuit still provides for very fast laps. It's a unique layout in regard to feel; when drivers exit the Mobil 1 turn, they come back into what feels like a stadium, with grandstands seemingly surrounding them. The old circuit played to this even more so, as drivers were sent out into the straights surrounded by dense forest, only to return each lap to see the spectators surrounding the start/finish area.

The track alternates with Nurburgring and has played host to some good battles throughout the years, including the duel between Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya in 2002.

Since Ferrari claimed the opening race in Bahrain, no other make aside from the Red Bull RB6 or McLaren MP4-25 has posted a win. The next several tracks play strongly to cars with outright pace, and the question remains as to whether any constructor aside from Red Bull or McLaren will win again this season.

Hockenheim, Hungaroring, Spa and Monza are circuits that all emphasize speed. Indeed, the best chance for another outfit to claim a win might be in late September on the streets of Singapore. That has to seem like a pretty dim prospect for the competition.

AP Photo/Alberto SaizJenson Button will have a car to beat at Silverstone on Sunday, but will he be a driver to beat?

A year ago, it looked as if Silverstone was going to be an afterthought on this year's Formula One calendar. Donington was looking strong to host the Grand Prix of Great Britain, but financial issues derailed that plan late last year. In the end, Silverstone received a price cut from what F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone originally was demanding, and the classic circuit will remain on the calendar through at least 2026.

The track is one of just four on this year's schedule that hosted a grand prix in F1's maiden year in 1950. Although money is what ultimately runs any sport, an original track such as Silverstone has arguably earned the right to a price break, and it's not unprecedented -- historic Monaco pays no hosting fee, and Monza pays a limited one. If F1 wants to continue to appeal to the masses, the sport is smart to retain some classic venues, especially as the balancing act between new and old continues to get trickier.

F1 circuits on 2010 calendar to host race in 1950
Circuit -- Races hosted
Monza -- 59
Monaco -- 57
Silverstone -- 44 including this year
Spa -- 42

One of the fastest tracks on the schedule sees a new layout before the start/finish line, increasing the track length to nearly six kilometers. That means Silverstone is now the third-longest track behind Spa and Bahrain. Sebastian Vettel is the defending race winner and just the second driver from Germany to win this event, alongside Michael Schumacher. In regard to driver nationality, this used to be a track where local drivers -- relatively speaking -- were very successful, but it has not played out that way recently. Since 2001, only one driver -- Lewis Hamilton in 2008 -- from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) has won this event. Compare that with the 15 winners from Great Britain in the venue's first thirty-four races.

In recent years, this event has favored variety, as there have been seven consecutive different winners, the longest such active streak of any track. Nevertheless, many of the top drivers from Great Britain have won here; Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, as well as names such as Peter Collins and David Coulthard.

One driver who is certainly focused on the present rather than the past is Karun Chandhok. The HRT pilot told ESPNF1 this week that he is facing competition for his seat, and it would frankly be surprising if he competed in Formula One next season. Chandhok entered this year in an unenviable spot; his team is understandably very slow, and as talented a driver as he may be, his prime appeal was major sponsor backing.

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Jose Jordan/AFP/Getty ImagesKarun Chandhok is talking like a man who expects to be out of a job soon.

Chandhok could make immense strides this year and it unfortunately might not matter, as the lower-tier teams in F1 likely care more about sponsorship backing than pure driving talent. Without sponsorships, the funding generally dries up pretty quickly. Overall, it's been a quiet season thus far in regard to musical chairs, as no driver has been replaced through the first nine races. Since 2006, this is only the second time no drivers have been replaced dismissed through nine events.

Drivers dismissed before 10th race of season since 2006
Season -- Driver replaced (Team)
2010 -- None
2009 -- Sebastien Bourdais (Toro Rosso)
2008 -- None
2007 -- Christijan Albers (Spyker)
2006 -- Yuji Ide (Super Aguri)

Last year, it was Sebastien Bourdais at Toro Rosso who was replaced after nine races. Three years ago, it was Christijan Albers at Spyker -- also after nine races -- and the year before that, Yuji Ide had his super license revoked after just four races with Super Aguri.

The lightning-fast Silverstone track will challenge novices and veterans alike, as much of the first half of a lap consists of high-speed straights and bends that are typically run in the top two gears. The addition of the Arena layout provides some very fast turns and straights toward the end of the lap, so that will no doubt be a challenge, as well.

Silverstone has proved to be a handful for Jenson Button, as the British driver has yet to score a podium in his home race in 10 attempts. For Button, it's the most races without a podium finish on any track, and no doubt he would love to turn that around this weekend in front of a home crowd. He'll certainly have the speed in the McLaren to do that.

Most race participations with no podiums -- Jenson Button
Circuit -- Races
Silverstone -- 10
Magny-Cours -- 9
Indianapolis -- 7

After Valencia, it's apparently not Ferrari's season in any way, shape or form. It was a weekend in which the Italian team looked poised for a turnaround; Fernando Alonso set the fastest time in the second practice, and the duo of Alonso and Felipe Massa qualified fourth- and fifth-quickest, respectively.

Terrible timing was the team's undoing in Spain, however, as Mark Webber's scary crash brought out the safety car just ahead of the Ferraris.

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AP Photo / Victor R. CaivanoFerrari teammates Fernando Alonso, front, and Felipe Massa didn't catch many breaks at the European Grand Prix in Valencia, Spain.

The prancing horse outfit quickly looked Lewis Hamilton's way, as he was just ahead of Alonso and Massa. Hamilton passed the safety car, and was later penalized, but the Ferrari drivers felt as if they had been held up. Claims that Hamilton was not truly penalized seem unfounded, however. It is true that he did not lose a position on the track, but he lost massive amounts of time to leader -- and ultimate winner -- Sebastian Vettel.

Following his penalty, Hamilton made up a considerable number of seconds in regards to Vettel, but in the end it was not enough. In reality, Hamilton's penalty cost him a good chance at first.

Vettel's drive was uneventful, save for locking the brakes while returning to green-flag conditions after Webber's accident, and he drove a remarkably smooth race.

He was one of the few drivers who had a quiet day; 10 total drivers were penalized after the race, Michael Schumacher had a drive to forget with a 15th-place finish and Webber had the frightening accident that had to remind him of his Mercedes flipping at Le Mans in 1999.

Webber was very fortunate to have walked away from both. It ended his eight-race streak of earning points this season, the longest single-season streak of his career, but more importantly, it highlights the safety innovations in Formula One as well as throughout motorsports.

Most consecutive races earning points -- Mark Webber in F1 (Single Season)
Season -- Consecutive races earning points -- Team
2010 -- eight -- Red Bull
2009 -- six -- Red Bull
2008 -- five -- Red Bull
2005 -- four -- Williams

There have been some major accidents throughout racing lately; Mike Conway's flight into the fences at this year's Indianapolis 500, Carl Edwards crashing into the Talladega fences on the final lap of the Sprint Cup race last season as well as Stephane Ortelli's huge shunt at Monza two seasons ago in a Le Mans Series race.

All these events share commonality in that the drivers avoided serious injury and were able to walk away from the crash. It's fortunate that there are drivers such as three-time world champion Jackie Stewart, who fought for more driver and circuit safety during the 1960s and 1970s. Without his efforts, the development of safety barriers, proper seat restraints and training of safety workers might well have been a long way off.

Valencia was a chaotic race, and Vettel deserved the win. Meanwhile, McLaren put both of its cars on the podium for the third straight event. Vettel needed a strong finish, and he's now well within striking distance of the McLaren boys. Hamilton was seeking a third straight win for the first time in his career, and he's now finished second at Valencia all three times the race has been held there.

Rubens Barrichello benefited from the chaos that ensued following the release of the safety car, finishing fourth, four places better than his previous-best result with Williams. But the 2009 Valencia winner had a very strong drive, holding off Robert Kubica for over 40 laps.

It was a banner day for Sauber driver Kamui Kobayashi , who overtook Fernando Alonso and Sebastien Buemi in the closing laps on fresh tires to finish seventh. It's a huge statement for him, as he showcased some of the talent he had previously displayed in two races with Toyota last season. If Kobayashi can continue to post points finishes, as he has in two of the past three races, then his six retirements in the first eight races of the season will soon be forgotten.

Big changes to the Formula One landscape came a week ago, and among them was the announcement of the return of the 107 percent rule. In essence, any driver who does not set a lap within 107 percent of the fastest time in Q1 will not be allowed to start the race, unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as bad weather. For example, if Lewis Hamilton sets a qualifying time of 1:15.000, then every driver must set a fastest lap of at least 1:20.25 in order to make it into the event.

This would have been an issue for several teams at the beginning of the season, but not as much of one now. Under those rules, both HRT cars would have failed to qualify for the opening race of the season, and at least one driver would not have made the field in three of the first five events (not including Alonso in Monaco, who was not able to participate in qualifying). Of the last four events, however, only Karun Chandhok would have been watching the race from the sidelines.

Would not have qualified with 107 percent rule in effect -- 2010
Event -- Driver(s)
Bahrain -- Bruno Senna, Karun Chandhok
Australia -- None
Malaysia -- Lucas di Grassi
China -- None
Spain -- Senna
Monaco -- None
Turkey -- None
Montreal -- Chandhok
Valencia -- None

AP Photo/Darron CummingsMcLaren teammates Lewis Hamilton, right, and Jenson Button have had the hot hand recently.

Could we see a youth movement in Spain this weekend?

It's possible, as Valencia is a newer track on the schedule, and therefore no driver has considerably more experience here than any other. Combine that with the fact that many of the rookies in F1 have competed and won here in GP2.

Vitaly Petrov is one driver to watch. He has won here twice in GP2 (once thanks to fuel mileage) and is comfortable at this track. Virgin pilot Lucas di Grassi won here in 2008, while Nico Hulkenberg was victorious on the Spanish streets last year along with Petrov. Collectively, this race is the best chance that the rookies have at earning considerable points.

The streets of Valencia are the fifth locale to host the European Grand Prix along with Brands Hatch, the Nurburgring (newer short course), Jerez and an appearance at Donington Park in 1993.

Despite its critics and lack of attendance last year, Valencia has a contract to host the race until 2014, so we will unlikely to have a new European Grand Prix venue anytime soon. And despite 25 turns, the course has not played out as a particularly hard track on equipment; there have been only five combined retirements in two races here.

It is actually tougher on the drivers, as the forecast calls for highs this weekend of around 80 degrees.

Most turns, F1 circuits on current schedule
Valencia -- 25
Bahrain -- 23
Singapore -- 23

Elsewhere, McLaren's strong start to the summer has been impressive, and it has created a tight battle atop the standings.

But it's far too early to jump ship; as with many things in life, drivers and teams are rarely as good or bad as a recent hot or cold streak. That should not discount what McLaren teammates Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton have done recently, but their success in no way spells doom for Red Bull or even Ferrari at this point.

It's remarkable that Red Bull has come so far, so fast. Only a handful of seasons ago, few would have believed that this team would be competing for a title now. Even fewer would have guessed that the team would enter the season as title favorites in the eyes of many.

AP Photo/Darron CummingsLewis Hamilton, left, has won the last two races, but it's too early to count out Fernando Alonso and his Ferrari team.

The Austria-based beverage company purchased its current team from Jaguar in late 2004 for the price of $1 -- along with significant future investment agreements. Jaguar was a squad that was in relative shambles at the time; in five seasons running Cosworth engines, the British marque burned through eight different drivers, totaling no wins and two podium finishes.

Under the direction of team principal Christian Horner, Red Bull quickly improved upon its predecessor, amassing more points in the first two races of 2005 than Jaguar totaled in the entire 2004 season.

The team ditched the Cosworth motor in 2006, opting for Ferrari power for a season before its current power plant (Renault) was implemented in 2007. The addition of technical director Adrian Newey was instrumental, as was the benefit of a sister team in Toro Rosso.

The promotion of Sebastian Vettel from Toro Rosso after the 2008 season created a compelling driver lineup, as the young Vettel was paired with the experienced Mark Webber. Over the past two seasons, it's all started coming together.

Red Bull F1 history

Valencia will likely suit McLaren more than Red Bull, however, as Button explained to reporters last week.

"Even though it's a street circuit, it's got quite a different feel to other street tracks like Monte Carlo or Singapore," he said. "For a start, it's quite a bit faster. There are some low-speed corners with some fairly unforgiving walls at the apex, but there are also some high-speed changes of direction and some long straights, so it's quite an interesting place set-up-wise.

"It's not as if you completely rely on downforce, there's a trade-off, and that should suit our package."

It's one of just three tracks on the current schedule in which McLaren is without a win; the team has finished second here both years. If conditions are hospitable, look for this team to easily break the fastest race lap set by Timo Glock last year (1:38.683) and perhaps go on to victory.

For Lewis Hamilton, 13 has to be considered a lucky number.

The British driver propelled himself to the top of the Formula One standings after his phenomenal drive Sunday. It was his 13th career grand prix win, and he earned it in only his 60th start. In Formula One history, only seven drivers have reached the mark quicker; Hamilton won No. 13 faster than Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Jackie Stewart or Nelson Piquet.

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Hoch Zwei/Getty ImagesCanadian Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton, right, and Jenson Button celebrate their 1-2 finish for McLaren Mercedes in Montreal on Sunday.

Fewest grand prix starts to reach 13 wins (all time)

• Alberto Ascari, 25
• Juan Manuel Fangio, 28
• Jim Clark, 38
• Damon Hill, 51
• Stirling Moss, 55
• Michael Schumacher, 57
• Emerson Fittipaldi, 58
• Lewis Hamilton, 60

Since 1970, Hamilton is the fourth quickest to reach the mark, and he is in very impressive company with the likes of Fittipaldi, Schumacher and Hill.

Hamilton's a remarkably balanced driver as those 13 F1 victories have come on 11 different courses.

It was another banner weekend for McLaren. Hamilton stole the pole at the last minute, and ended up leading Jenson Button to another 1-2 finish, the first 1-2 result in back-to-back races for the team since 2000.

In the standings, Hamilton leads Button by just three points, while Mark Webber is another three back. Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel are still right in the hunt as well, and the title fight will come down to one of those five drivers.

Montreal was a race F1 certainly needed, as the opening laps of the race were fascinating. Vitaly Petrov found himself in trouble at the start, going wide into the grass, then spinning back across the track. Seconds later, Vitantonio Liuzzi and Felipe Massa touched several times as both quickly ran out of room to maneuver in the second turn.

Throughout the grand prix, several battles raged, including a late off-course excursion involving Massa and Schumacher. It was a rough weekend for the seven-time champion. After failing to reach Q3, Schumacher lost positions late to Force India and fell out of the points.

Toro Rosso driver Sebastien Buemi likely departed Canada as thrilled as Hamilton.

He summed up his weekend to reporters postrace by saying, "Eighth place, leading the race and passing Michael [Schumacher]. What a day!"

It certainly was the highlight of Buemi's career, overtaking Schumacher late in the race. That has to be a huge boost for the young driver's confidence, and we'll see if it yields further points this season.

Aside from the thrilling overtaking, there was also the issue of tire wear. Few tracks are as tough on tires as Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (Indianapolis comes to mind), and teams were fighting excessive wear throughout the event. Drivers had to be very careful late in the race, as even the hard tire compounds were worn thin by that point.

It was a hectic weekend for ex-F1ers as well. Many former Formula One drivers were on hand for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, including Nigel Mansell, Olivier Beretta, Franck Montagny, Christijan Albers, Olivier Panis and Allan McNish. McNish finished on the overall podium for Audi, while Mansell had a considerable shunt when his tire blew up early in the race. In the Camping World Truck Series, Nelson Piquet Jr. finished 10th at Michigan driving for owner Billy Ballew while Juan Pablo Montoya finished 13th in the Sprint Cup event.

One of the few street circuits is in action next as Valencia will host its third-ever event. The street circuit is demanding, and like most city courses, provides few overtaking opportunities. It was the site of Rubens Barrichello's first win with Brawn last year when this race was run in August. Schumacher had been set to make his F1 return at that event, but his lingering neck injury prevented a return at the time.

Since 2008, the year Valencia joined the calendar, Hamilton is the only multiple winner on street circuits. In that span, Hamilton has finished on the podium five times in seven street races. He has finished second in both Valencia events, starting from the pole last season. He will likely be on the podium again when this race concludes.

The signature harbor bridge between Turns 9 and 10 has quickly become one of the most notable landmarks on the F1 schedule. The exit from that bridge is crucial, as the cars reach top speed on the long straightaway that follows.

One thing is for sure: After Montreal, this event has a lot to live up to.

With so many inexperienced drivers in the series this season, it's not surprising when many have not competed on an upcoming track.

Montreal goes a bit beyond that however, as an astonishing one-third of the field has never competed at the circuit in a Formula One event. Vitaly Petrov, Jaime Alguersuari, Sebastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi, Nico Hulkenberg, Karun Chandhok, Lucas di Grassi and Bruno Senna are all drivers who have yet to turn a lap at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in F1, and it would be understandable Sunday if there were a fair amount of caution periods.

After all, the Wall of Champions on the outside of the final chicane has claimed the cars of numerous superstars, including Michael Schumacher, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve, so rookies should be on high alert this coming weekend.

Villeneuve's father, Gilles, is the only Canadian winner of this event and had the track named after him following his death in 1982. He won the inaugural F1 race here, his first career series victory.

Won home Grand Prix in inaugural event (circuits on current schedule)
Year -- Driver -- Circuit
1978 -- Gilles Villeneuve -- Montreal (Canada)
1973 -- Emerson Fittipaldi -- Interlagos (Brazil)
1950 -- Nino Farina -- Monza (Italy)

The track certainly has a nice flow to it; the frontstretch is broken by a fast chicane, while the back side of the circuit is dictated by a set of quick left- and right-handers. Between the frontstretch and backstretch is a sweeping turn after the start/finish line as well as a tight, signature hairpin that spills out onto the front straightaway.

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AP Photo/Ferdinando MeazzaThe late Gilles Villeneuve got the thrill of winning his first race in the first-ever F1 race at the track that would later bear his name.

You would think a notably smooth driver such as Jenson Button would have great success at Gilles Villeneuve, but that has not been the case. In nine races here, the driver currently second in points has finished better than 11th just twice, and has collected points only once.

Not surprisingly, Michael Schumacher dominated here in his heyday, winning a total of seven Montreal events. He's the only driver on the grid this year with more than a single win, and when he does line up on the grid this weekend, it will be his 258th race, passing Italian Riccardo Patrese for second on F1's all-time list. Only Rubens Barrichello, who is approaching his 300th grand prix this weekend, has more.

It's yet another milestone in an incomparable career, but one of the few records that Schumacher will likely never hold.

Notable records Michael Schumacher does not hold
Schumacher stat -- Record
Grand prix entries: 258 -- 296 (Rubens Barrichello )
Age at first win: 23 years -- 21 years (Sebastian Vettel)
Career win pct.: 35 -- 47 (Juan Manuel Fangio)

A driver who has never won at Montreal, Mark Webber, dominated the headlines this week after extending his contract with Red Bull for another season. A few weeks ago, the rest of the season appeared as though it would be filled with headlines of musical chairs, with several drivers swapping seats for the upcoming season. Since then, Webber has re-signed with Red Bull, Felipe Massa has re-signed with Ferrari, and Robert Kubica's manager has said that his driver will remain with Renault for 2011. While there are no guarantees, it appears as though the most talked about drivers will be with the same teams next year.

That would not be overly surprising, however. This past offseason in Formula One was chaotic, and few teams are likely to make drastic changes two years in a row. One needs only to look at another motorsports series for an example. Following the 2008 Sprint Cup season, no less than a dozen cars had new primary drivers for the 2009 year. It was one of the busiest offseasons in the series' history (as was this year's F1 break). This past winter, on the other hand, was relatively quiet, with only a few major drivers swapping teams.

Among the considerable changes prior to this season in Formula One was Toyota's withdrawal from the series. That left Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli without seats, until Glock signed on with Virgin and Trulli joined Lotus. No drivers in the sport have endured a harder season than these two, considering where they were a year ago. Toyota had made great strides, and it's difficult to see Glock and Trulli driving for upstart, struggling teams. Through seven events, neither driver has finished better than 15th, and the two have combined for eight retirements.

Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock through seven Races, last two seasons
Stat -- 2009 -- 2010
Podiums -- 3 -- 0
Best finish -- third -- 15th
Best start -- first -- 16th
Retirements -- second -- eighth

Neither team has been making much progress since the start of the year. Glock and Trulli remain four to five seconds off the pace at every event in qualifying, and the two have combined to reach Q2 just once. The pair remain the best example of how much these new teams need to improve before they can even hope to compete with the strong runners, as both racers were fairly competitive with the top teams last year.

It has to feel as if a large weight has been lifted from Lewis Hamilton's shoulders this past weekend. Not only did he score his first win of the season, but he ended a drought of nine races without a victory.

For most, that would be perfectly acceptable, but for Hamilton, it was the second-longest winless streak of his young career, and had he not won the Turkish Grand Prix on Sunday, it would have equaled his longest.

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AP Photo/Luca BrunoLewis Hamilton's victory Sunday at the Turkish Grand Prix was his first win of 2010.

He also proved his mettle by holding off teammate Jenson Button, who has largely been regarded as the stronger McLaren runner this season prior to Turkey. However, it did not come easily, as both McLaren drivers acted as if they had not witnessed the disastrous tangle between Red Bull teammates Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel that had transpired only a few laps prior. Once Red Bull had successfully taken itself out of the running, Button and Hamilton tangled as well, but no major harm was done.

Hamilton made it five different winners through the first seven events, tied for the most over the past 24 seasons. Only one other time in that span have five different winners made up the opening seven grand prix events -- that was in 2003, when the season began with David Coulthard claiming the win in Australia after Juan Pablo Montoya spun late.

One has to travel to 1985 to find the last time that six drivers claimed a win in the first seven races. That year, Elio de Angelis earned his second and final F1 win in the third event of the season, while Michele Alboreto scored one of his five career wins in that span.

Ferrari, the only team that has had more success in F1 than McLaren, has been struggling, and Turkey brought those trials to the forefront. Fernando Alonso told reporters after his eighth-place finish Sunday: "We have been a bit surprised, as both in Barcelona and here we were not too competitive. All race Felipe [Massa] fought with [Nico] Rosberg and I fought with [Vitaly] Petrov, so we are at Renault's level, which is obviously not enough."

If this is the kind of pace that is to be expected from Ferrari at high-speed tracks, then the team is likely in for some tough results at upcoming races such as Hockenheim, Silverstone, Spa and Monza. Clearly changes need to be made, and while last season was a highly publicized disappointment for the team, the start to this year is looking fairly similar.

Ferrari through seven races the past two seasons:

Category -- 2009 -- 2010
• Wins -- Zero -- One
• Podiums -- One -- Four
• Fastest laps -- One -- One
• Constructors' standings -- Fourth -- Third

Alonso's attempt to charge through the field resulted in late-race contact with Petrov, which forced Petrov to pit with a blown tire. It seems to be the theme for Petrov this season -- strong performances that are capped with generally preventable incidents. But the promise this young driver has shown cannot be overlooked, as he was staring at a points-paying finish while setting the fastest lap of the race in the process. It is true that his quick lap was set up by having fresh tires, but Petrov has been improving his fastest lap in relation to the field all season:

Petrov's fastest lap rankings in 2010
• Bahrain -- 19th
• Australia -- 18th
• Malaysia -- 14th
• China -- Eighth
• Spain -- Eighth
• Monaco -- 12th
• Turkey -- First

Since the fastest lap became an award in 2007, only one driver has set the quickest lap time in a race faster in his career. That would be Hamilton, who set the fastest lap in Malaysia in just his second career start. Race completions will come in time for the 2009 GP2 runner-up, who is too talented not to be successful in this sport. For now, he certainly has the raw speed.

Next on the schedule is Montreal, a track that did not host an F1 event last year. Financial agreements have since been reached between Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and Formula One, allowing the renewal of a historic event. In the past two races, the track has yielded a first-time F1 winner in each (Hamilton in 2007 and Robert Kubica in 2008), so a driver such as Rosberg should not be overlooked as this year's dark horse.

The high speeds return to Formula One this week as all eyes turn to Istanbul Park in Turkey.

A newer track on the schedule, the circuit provides some firsts this season. For starters, the eighth turn is like nothing else on the schedule, providing a high-speed multiple apex that keeps drivers on their toes at all times. Secondly, Turkey runs counter-clockwise, the first such track this season and one of just five on the schedule (along with Interlagos, Korea, Singapore and Abu Dhabi).

It has generally provided fairly clean racing but is not without a notable crash or two, including Giancarlo Fisichella catapulting over Kaz Nakajima in the first turn in 2008.

No one has excelled here like Brazilian Felipe Massa, who has won this event three of the five times it has been run, each time from the pole. Massa's three victories here are his most of any track, and he will no doubt be on the radar again this weekend.

Ferrari has benefited overall, as well; from 2006 to 2008, the Italian brand saw both of its cars on the podium in each race, thanks to additionally strong performances from Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen. If that sort of performance can be replicated Sunday, it would be a big boost for Ferrari, which sits 20 points behind Red Bull in the Constructors Championship.

Massa, meanwhile, has been impressive this season. The fact that he is able to compete this year is by itself remarkable, considering the severe head injury he suffered last summer.

In 2010, Massa is one of only two drivers (along with points leader Mark Webber) to score points in every event, and he has had to battle through some tough situations. In Malaysia, a track that Massa has historically struggled at, he started 21st after a disastrous qualifying session, yet fought back and finished seventh. And while Massa hasn't qualified noticeably well this season, he has held or improved his initial grid position in five of six Grand Prix events.

Besides, the second half of the season typically has been more favorable for the Ferrari driver. In his last three full seasons with Ferrari (2006 to '08), not including last year's partial season, Massa has posted 16 podium finishes in the second frame of the season, compared to 11 in the first.

Massa's first-half and second-half performance numbers in full seasons with Ferrari (2006-08):

Category -- First half -- Second half
• Wins -- Five -- Six
• Podiums -- 11 -- 16
• Retirements -- Three -- Two
• Points earned -- 127 -- 144

Meanwhile, Formula One announced Tuesday that it will return to the United States for the 2012 season. A purpose-built facility in Austin, Texas, is scheduled to host the event for at least 10 years, which is surely an exciting prospect.

The series' black eye at the 2005 U.S. Grand Prix was a considerable reason why the country has not hosted an event since 2007, but the market is simply too large to ignore, and rumors of a race returning to U.S. soil had been ongoing for several months. With so many great U.S. circuits already in existence, it is rather surprising that one will be constructed for the U.S. event, but if F1 had truly been honing in on the Texas area, it makes sense, as great road courses are very sparse in that area.

Austin would add another chapter to a long history of Formula One competition in the United States, which began when the Indianapolis 500 was part of the schedule during the 1950s. The race was taken off the schedule following 1960, and Watkins Glen became a host for the next 20 years, while Sebring saw an F1 race in 1959. The streets of Long Beach, Dallas, Phoenix and Detroit all hosted events in the 1980s, as did Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas for a brief stint. Indianapolis then ushered Formula One back to the United States in 2000 with the addition of a road course within its spacious confines.

From a pure racing standpoint, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., would have been an ideal venue among existing tracks, though it is very unlikely a part of F1's future. Laguna Seca's sharp elevation changes and unique corkscrew make the track a dream F1 destination, and the circuit's unofficial record was even briefly held by a Toyota F1 car, set by Ricardo Zonta during a 2006 exhibition session.

Road America (Elkhart Lake, Wis.) and Road Atlanta (Braselton, Ga.) also are two classic U.S. road courses that would be fantastic venues for F1 from a fan's perspective. One can only dream that someday these circuits will see a Formula One weekend.

AP Photo/Gero BreloerMark Webber quenched his thirst in the Red Bull swimming pool after winning Sunday at Monaco.

In an age when young superstars are seeing success almost immediately, Mark Webber is a refreshing story.

While early success is no doubt extremely admirable, there's something commendable about a man who fights for years to reach the pinnacle of motorsport. Webber certainly exemplifies this, having competed in more than 130 events with Minardi, Jaguar, Williams and Red Bull before earning his first career win last season. He waded through the rough times with bad teams, and was able to finally find success the past two seasons with his current squad.

It's truly a testament to his sheer talent, as Webber has generally outperformed his teammates wherever he has been, and teams have no doubt noticed.

In his F1 debut with Minardi in 2002, Webber scored the team's first points since 1999, and throughout his career, he has consistently outshined teammates such as Nick Heidfeld, Nico Rosberg and David Coulthard while making the most of his machinery.

Now, it's finally paying off. Webber won the Monaco Grand Prix from the pole on Sunday.

For Webber and Sebastian Vettel, the Turkish Grand Prix on May 30 is the start of the season, as the two are tied atop the standings, with Webber owning the tiebreaker.

A case could be made that the drivers who gained the largest morale-boosters Sunday were Robert Kubica and Fernando Alonso. Kubica challenged for pole throughout much of Q3, and started an impressive second with Renault. After getting overtaken by Sebastian Vettel as cars were getting up to speed coming off of the grid, Kubica settled in and ran a clean, consistent race, winding up third.

Alonso's weekend seemed doomed when he crashed in practice, thereby missing qualifying. But on the toughest track to pass, Alonso and Ferrari caught a few breaks, notably during an early caution. He pitted on the first lap, changed tires and focused on gaining positions. While he endured a few frustrations (getting held up by Virgin Racing), Alonso used the track to his advantage, choosing to overtake almost exclusively while braking for Turn 10, which occurs right after the tunnel. Ferrari's keen strategy and Alonso's grit paid off, and he wound up sixth on the day after Michael Schumacher was penalized for overtaking during a safety car period at the conclusion of the race.

Jenson Button retired on just the second lap due to overheating, the shortest outing by a defending Monaco winner since Schumacher in 1996, when he collided with the wall on a slippery Monte Carlo track in the first lap of the race. Button is the latest casualty of recent history, in fact, as the past three defending Monaco winners have now each finished 10th or worse in the race the following year:

Monaco winner -- Following year's finish
• 2009: Jenson Button -- 23rd
• 2008: Lewis Hamilton -- 12th
• 2007: Fernando Alonso -- 10th

Button was one driver none too pleased over the race weekend, and not just from his disappointing race day. The tone of his weekend was set during qualifying, when he was held up by Felipe Massa toward the end of a quick lap. Instead of a potential front-row position, Button had to settle for eighth on the grid, a harsh reality for a title contender.

While it was likely nothing more than a weekend feud, Formula One could certainly use a strong rivalry for the new decade, or at least a few memorable on-track battles. A few that come to mind are Rene Arnoux against Gilles Villeneuve at France in 1979, Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell battling to the finish in Spain during the 1986 edition, and of course Alain Prost versus Senna at Japan in 1989 and again in 1990.

Some of the more polarizing rivalries of the past few decades start with Prost and Senna, while Schumacher and Damon Hill provided considerable entertainment in the mid-1990s. Nelson Piquet and Mansell were certainly fierce rivals while both at Williams in the mid-1980s. Recently, Alonso and Hamilton feuded while together at McLaren, and while this season has been very competitive up front, we've yet to see a true, lasting clash between drivers.

Perhaps as the temperatures rise this summer in the northern hemisphere, so will the tempers.