New to the world of Grand Prix’s and Races? Here’s the ultimate Formula 1 guide

Is your Instagram feed filled with F1 edits and race headlines but you are unable to understand what’s all the hype about and what’s the *Formula* behind Formula 1? Here’s the ultimate guide to the world’s most renowned racing institution raising adrenaline levels all across the world, one Grand Prix at a time.

What is Formula 1?

Formula 1 (F1) is the highest class of international single-seater car racing, it’s known to be extremely high-tech, global and fast. The race has been credited to being pioneers of bringing new technology to the automobile industry through constant innovations, unlike NASCAR or rally racing. The cars are sleek, open-wheeled, and optimized for speed and an exuberant example of automobile and aerodynamics. The word Formula in the name refers to the set of rules all participants and cars must follow. Grands Prix is a series of races that take place in multiple countries and continents on either custom-built circuits or closed roads.

Also considered to be one of the most expensive forms of Advertising, Formula 1 is an excellent advertising strategy for the products of the teams racing from Red Bull’s energy drinks, Louis Vuitton, Moët & Chandon, and TAG Heuer  to Ferrari’s cars many brands are part of the Formula 1 team. 

What does a typical Formula 1 team consist of?

10 teams race every weekend with each team having 2 drivers to race, the top 10 finishers win points in each race. The breakdown is as follows:
1st – 25 pts, 2nd – 18, 3rd – 15, down to 10th – 1 point. There’s also 1 extra point for the fastest lap—but only if the driver finishes in the top  

Drivers earn points individually, and teams earn points through both of their drivers for the Constructors’ Championship that determines the winner for the entire season.

What does a typical racing weekend look like?

A standard F1 Race weekend is split into three segments:

•Practice (Friday & Saturday): Every track and circuit is unique in its own manner, Drivers familiarize themselves with the track, test configurations, and gather information for the race. 

•Qualifying (Saturday): A timed session that determines the starting grid for the race. The fastest driver receives “pole position.”, an important position that boosts winning chances.

• Race (Sunday): The feature race. Drivers make a predetermined number of laps, typically around 57 laps lasting for 2 hours  (typically around 305 km overall). The one who crosses the finish line first wins

[ Pic Credit – Road and Track]

 Why are pit stops so important in F1?

A mandatory pause for each team, pit stops are for mid-race mechanical changes or mainly, tire changes. Teams are awarded points for the fastest pit stop, lasting for 2-3 seconds. Timing a pit stop right is important to determine their fate of winning or losing, every pit stop has a strategy.

How does the choice of tyre make a difference to the race?

The type of tyre chosen by teams can determine the chances of them winning or losing, affecting grip and speed divided into three types:

1. Soft : the highest-numbered slick tyre is painted red for the weekend and referred to as the ‘soft’ tyre, these tyres are quick but are quickly worn out.

2. Medium: the middle option is painted yellow and referred to as the ‘medium’ offering a balance of speed and longevity.

3. Large/ Hard : whereas the lowest-numbered is white marked and referred to as the ‘hard’ tyre,, these are reputed to be long lasting but slower – all alongside the green intermediate and blue full wet tyres.

Selecting the correct tire at the correct time—weather, track temperature, and wear—is an important aspect of F1 strategy. Occasionally a good strategy or a well selected tyre can overcome a quicker car.

What do terms like DRS, undercut, and pole position mean?

• DRS – In motor racing, the drag reduction system is a form of driver-adjustable bodywork aimed at reducing aerodynamic drag in order to increase top speed and promote overtaking. It is an adjustable rear wing of the car, which moves in response to driver commands. It is a flap on the car’s rear wing that opens to reduce drag, giving more speed. Only allowed in certain zones when you’re within 1 second of the car ahead.

• Undercut: A strategy where a driver pits earlier than the car ahead to get fresh tires and try to leapfrog them when they pit.
  
• Pole Position: The starting point to a high probability of victory, Pole Position is when a team wins the first position on the starting grid of the final race won by establishing the fastest lap in the qualifying race.

How are the cars different from one another—aren’t they all the same?

They may appear identical but their aerodynamics and engineering vary from team to team and strategy to strategy, Every team develops its own aerodynamics and chassis. Although all the cars adhere to the same rules and regulations (such as size, engine limits, etc.), the way they interpret them makes each car different. That is why there are some faster teams than others.

All the teams have race engineers who fit in with every team’s racing plan and configure each car according to the requirements for the race, the most optimum co-ordination of a team’s driver and its race engineer can boost the team’s prospects or otherwise.

Some of the greatest Formula 1 drivers in history:

• Nigel Mansell
• Fernando Alonso
• Ayrton Senna
• Alain Prost
• Sebastian Vettel
• Max Verstappen
• Michael Schumacher
• Lewis Hamilton

What makes Formula 1 so famous amongst people?

With its years of racing legacy and 10 annual teams, it’s no longer just a race for people, it’s an emotional investment with the teams and races. With around millions working for their teams, each win is not singular to the winning driver, but also essential to the team and crew, Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport and the world’s most prestigious motor racing competition. There really is nothing like it. 

Ahead of the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday, a unique twist was added to the Formula 1 drivers’ parade. All 20 F1 drivers took the wheel of fully drivable LEGO big build cars. This special event became the first of many memorable moments for families at races this year.

The cars were created by a skilled team of 26 designers, engineers and LEGO builders, over 22,000 hours, in the LEGO Group’s Kladno factory, located in the Czech Republic. At a near 1:1 in scale with Formula 1 cars, each big build is made of nearly 400,000 LEGO bricks, weighing 1,000kg and is capable of reaching speeds of 20kph 

More than just machines, Formula 1 cars are rolling laboratories, symbols of human ambition and the relentless pursuit of speed. They remind us that limits are meant to be challenged and records are there to be broken. On every track, in every race, they carry not just drivers—but dreams.