It’s a busy season ahead for Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton with a full race calendar in 2018.

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The new Formula One season holds a busy schedule for the teams, with 21 races making it the joint-longest season in F1 history.

The calendar sees two additions compared to last year – the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim and the French GP at Paul Ricard.

“The old Hockenheim circuit was one of my favourites back then,” said Stevenage F1 racer Lewis Hamilton.

“But the track is still great as it is now. It’s quite small but it has that big long straight in the back which creates good racing.

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“I’m excited to be going back, Germany has such a great fan base for motor racing.”

One event that always was very special to everyone at Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport has been dropped from the calendar for the new season – the Malaysian Grand Prix.

“I’m going to miss Malaysia,” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.

“It’s the home of our title partner Petronas and it’s sad that we won’t be going to Sepang this year.

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“For the new races that will return to the calendar, I’m happy that we will go back to Germany.

“It’s just a two-hour drive from Stuttgart, so it’s a home race for Mercedes, and we hope that many of our Daimler friends can join us at the race.

“And regarding Paul Ricard – there’s obviously worse places to be than in the South of France in the summer!”

The team is especially excited to go back to Hockenheim.

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The track is just a little over 100 kilometres away from the Mercedes-Benz headquarters in Stuttgart and the Mercedes-AMG base of operations in Affalterbach.

In other words, together with Silverstone, the team is looking at two home Grands Prix this year.

Hamilton’s Silver Arrows colleague Valtteri Bottas said: “I’ve raced so many times at Hockenheim, the first time was probably in 2007 with Formula Renault and I’ve been racing there in F3 as well and GP3.

“It’s always been a great circuit to go to. And I have good memories from the 2014 F1 race, when I came in second with Lewis just behind me.

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“Hopefully we can get the same result this year – just one place better.

“And it will be good to go back with Mercedes as it will be a home race for us.”

• Full 2018 Formula One Grand Prix race calendar:

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Lewis Hamilton driving the F1 W09 EQ Power+ at Silverstone [Picture: Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd]Lewis Hamilton driving the F1 W09 EQ Power+ at Silverstone [Picture: Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd] (Image: Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.)

25 March – Melbourne, Australia

8 April – Sakhir, Bahrain

15 April – Shanghai, China

29 April – Baku, Azerbaijan

13 May – Barcelona, Spain

27 May – Monaco, Monaco

10 June – Montreal, Canada

24 June – Le Castellet, France

1 July – Spielberg, Austria

8 July – Silverstone, Great Britain

22 July – Hockenheim, Germany

29 July – Budapest, Hungary

26 August – Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium

2 September – Monza, Italy

16 September – Singapore, Singapore

30 September – Sochi, Russia

7 October – Suzuka, Japan

21 October – Austin, USA

28 October – Mexico City, Mexico

11 November – Sao Paulo, Brazil

25 November – Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi.