What is Formula 1?

Formula 1 is a series of car races held at different venues around the world. It originated from the European Championships of Grand Prix races, which occurred before World War II. During this time competitions were extremely unfair because there was no limit to the car’s power and size. In 1946 the Federation Internationale De L’Automobile (FIA) introduced new rules which aimed to create equality and focus on the efficiency of the vehicle and proficiency of the driver. These rules have changed dramatically over time, and they are constantly being adjusted to fit the safety and quality standards of F1. 

Besides that, Formula 1 cars are the fastest open-wheel/open-cabin, four-wheel autos in the world. (Open-wheel/open-cabin means that the car does not have a fully closed top, which exposes the wheel and driver). In comparison, a NASCAR car goes approximately 320 kilometers per hour, whereas F1 cars can go closer to 400 kph. 

In this article I want to explain some of the basic things to help guide your understanding of motorsport. The world of Formula 1, however, is so extremely diverse that I know this cannot even begin to cover all of it. I hope that I can give you some inspiration to look further into this amazing sport, and maybe you’ll fall in love with it just like I did. 

Introduction to the Current Teams and Drivers

Here I’d like to introduce you to the current teams and drivers, in order of the present (Post Spanish Grand Prix – May 2022) standings. It is written in order of the winning constructors, which refer to the teams (ex. Ferrari, McLaren, etc). I’ll also include all the points individual drivers have received so far. Points are awarded as follows; the winner gets 25 points, second place gets 18 points, third place gets 15 points, and so on for the top 10 places. Anyone below that does not get points. There are also additional rules and extra points to earn, but I won’t go into too much detail.

Basics of Grand Prix Races and the F1 Season

The number of Grand Prix races in a season varies from year to year, in the 1950s it had about 7 races, but now it is closer to 19 or 20. The winner of the season can be concluded before all races are completed, but they are not officially announced until the FIA Prize Giving Ceremony at the end. This happens if it is not mathematically possible for another team to beat the top. However, when the top 2 teams are extremely close in points, it can all depend on the very last race. This happened last season when Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull) were tied in points right up until the last race. Max Verstappen ended up winning the world title, but many people did not agree with how things were handled. To avoid controversy I won’t ramble about that, but if you want to read more you can click here.  

Grand Prix races are hosted by different countries, and are named after that country. For example, the race hosted in Monaco is called the Monaco Grand Prix. The minimum distance of a race track used in a GP must be 300 kilometers. This is calculated by adding up the distance of all laps, meaning each GP has a different amount of laps depending on how many it takes to reach the minimum. A race can only last 2 hours, or 3 hours if there have been suspensions due to road conditions, crashes, etc. A race will usually continue after the problem is taken care of, unless it is a serious condition where drivers cannot continue. In this case, the results from the race up to that point will be used. If 75% of the race has not been completed and the race cannot be resumed, half points are rewarded. 

The top 10 teams, listed above, each get 2 cars in the race, so there are 20 cars on the grid in total. Before each race, a qualifying session is held to determine the order of the cars on race day, with the fastest driver being at the front and the slowest in the back. The qualifying session is 1 hour long, which is divided into 3 parts with small breaks in between. In Q1 all 20 drivers get 18 minutes to drive on the track to set the fastest record. The slowest 5 cars are knocked out and take places 16 to 20 on race day. In Q2 the remaining 15 drivers go on the track for 15 minutes, and the bottom get knocked out. They fill positions 11 to 15. The last 10 drivers go for another 12 minutes, and they fight for pole position. This is the ideal starting position as it is first place. There is also something called the 107 percent rule, which states the slowest 5 cars must drive a lap within 7 percent of the fastest recorded lap that session, otherwise they are disqualified. 

On race day, everyone starts with a warm-up lap. This is a 30 minute time period where pit lanes, tracks away from the actual grid, are opened for cars to drive on. This is important because the engine needs time to warm up, plus the tires need to get warmer as they stick better to the track that way. This is why you see cars swerving back and forth during the warm -up.

When the warm-up time is finished cars drive to the grid and line up in qualifying order, which was determined the day before. The race begins with starting lights. Each column lights up one after the other, once all 5 columns are lit up they stay that way for a few seconds, and when they are extinguished the race begins.

Race Rules

As said before, there are many rules in F1 to ensure there is a fair chance for all competitors. Constructors have many rules they must adhere to while making the cars, and the drivers themselves also have regulations to follow when on the track. The biggest thing in F1 is overtaking, because of all the rules (mostly due to safety concerns), this is extremely difficult. That is why the start positions are so incredibly important. The following are some of the basic concepts to this idea: 

One move rule: When a driver feels like they are at risk of losing their position they can make one defensive move against the other drivers. They can’t do this too late as it can put the others in danger. With this comes a lot of controversy, so it is dealt with on a case by case basis. Once this move is made they cannot make another move, or start weaving back and forth. However, if there is a corner ahead they may make extra moves as this can be classified as preparation for the corner. They must leave at least one car’s width between themselves and the edge of the track. 

Side by side rule: When two cars are side by side they have to respect each other’s space and make sure not to “bully” the other driver into a difficult situation. There are also different rules when it comes to braking zones, which are located in the corners. It is highly dangerous to change places in this zone because it gives other drivers little time to react, so they need to be extra careful during this time. The rule is that a car must be directly side by side with another car when taking over, and not just partially beside them. Again, this creates a lot of controversy in terms of who is entitled to what space, so these things are also judged on a case by case basis. 

Safety is Important 

F1 contains many special safety features to keep drivers, teams, and spectators safe. For example, there are crash barriers along the tracks in case a car shoots off. This is because in 1961, during the Italian Grand Prix, 15 bystanders were killed when 2 cars collied and one went into the audience. On the track there are also kerbs, the red and white lines on the edges, which allow drivers to see upcoming corners. When they go too much over the curb it slows them down, and decreases their chance of crashing into the guard rails. 

Besides that, the car itself also has multiple safety features. Because the driver’s head is exposed, most of the important aspects are built around this area. One of the biggest things is the survival cell, which is the section that surrounds the driver. It’s made of carbon fiber, which is highly durable, and ensures no debris can hit the driver. There is also something called the Halo, which is a small piece located by the driver’s head. While the piece only weighs 15 pounds, it can support the weight of a double decker bus, which weigh about 27,000 pounds. It is there in case a car lands on top of another car, or if a crash occurs where a driver’s head is in a dangerous position. When the Halo was first introduced in 2018, many people criticized it because the car had to undergo major reparations to fit this structure. However, after it saved the lives of multiple drivers, the Halo became universally accepted. Another thing that helps in case of a crash is the roll hoop. This structure basically keeps space between the driver and the ground in case a car is flipped, and without this the weight of the car (which is at least 750 kg) would crush them. Lastly, the cockpit, where the driver sits, is completely padded, including the head rest. It also has a harness that has 6 to 7 points, covering the shoulders, pelvis, and legs. These sit perfectly as the seats are custom fitted. 

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen Crash during the 26th lap of the 2021 Italian Grand Prix. It ended both of the driver’s involvement in the race. Verstappen claimed it was Hamiltion’s fault for not giving him enough space, but at the end he was given a time penalty for braking erratically. 

I also quickly want to mention the importance of Kevlar fuel tanks, (Kevlar is the material used in bulletproof vests), which make sure no fuel gets out during the race. Because mid-race refueling is no longer allowed, the cars have to carry 100 kg of fuel each race. This can be extremely dangerous because fuel is highly flammable, and a car crash containing fire is the most fatal kind. In 2020, during the Bahrain Grand Prix, Romain Grosjean’s car hit the rails and caught fire, he was lucky enough to survive, but it was later confirmed this had happened because of a malfunction with the fuel tank. 

Another thing that saved him was his suit, which is fireproof. It is remarkable that even though he was in the fire for 28 seconds, he came out relatively fine. The only place where he still has burn marks are his hands, which he needed to put directly in the fire in order to push himself out of the car. This, plus the drivers helmet, which undergoes extensive testing and must be approved by the FIA, are probably the 2 most important and lifesaving things a driver must wear. 

That’s it! I hope you learned something new, or this sparked your interest in F1 or the vast world of motorsport. Before concluding this article, I’d like to show you some interesting things about F1 I didn’t get to talk about. 

Lewis Hamilton’s interview on the Graham Norton Show, talking about the impact of driving an F1 car, and how much weight he loses per race due to the intense high pressure. Watch here.

A complete explanation of how a Formula One race car works. This is confusing even for me. Interested? Click here.  

And finally, the fastest NASCAR pit stop vs the fastest F1 pit stop. I think this is incredible. Click here. 

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