Formula 1, colloquially F1, is the highest class of international single-seater car racing, governed by the FIA (International Automobile Federation). The inaugural season of F1 is considered to be the 1950 season - before that, Grand Prix races were held, for example in Turin, but from that year onwards, the F1 World Championship began. Currently, within the Grand Prix races held in various cities around the world, the world champion is determined - the title is awarded to the driver who earns the most points in all races, with constructors also being separately evaluated. In the past, the length of the race track varied, but now it is standardized - it is 305-310 kilometers. An exception is street races, such as the Monaco Grand Prix - there, the race must be completed within 2 hours (resulting in a track length of about 250-260 kilometers). The fastest recorded speed on the track was close to 380 km/h!

Drivers first participate in qualifying sessions, which determine the starting order for the race (the first place is called pole position). The race starts with a warm-up lap, allowing drivers to check the track - during this lap, overtaking is not allowed, as it may result in losing the earned position. In an F1 race, the top ten finishers receive points (25 for first place, 18 for second, 15 for third, etc.). Additionally, the driver who sets the fastest lap time during the race receives a bonus point.

The number of races in a season is not fixed, as new tracks are constantly being built. There are many fixed regulations in the races, including the number of times a driver can change tires in a race - the word "formula" in the name is also related to a set of rules that apply to every participant in the races. Ten teams compete against each other, with 2 drivers in each team (and a third, reserve driver in the lineup).

Famous F1 drivers

The most successful drivers in the history of Formula 1 are German Michael Schumacher and British Lewis Hamilton - both have won the world championships 7 times. Behind them is Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio, who triumphed 5 times, but this was back in the 1950s; this driver holds the title of the most efficient in history: he won 24 out of 52 races he competed in. German Sebastian Vettel and French Alain Prost have each won 4 championships. However, true legends are considered the late Austrian Niki Lauda (3 titles, miraculously survived a crash at the Nurburgring track in 1976) and Brazilian Ayrton Senna (also 3 championships; tragically died at the San Marino track in 1994). Fernando Alonso is still racing, a two-time winner of the Formula 1 general classification - the Spaniard holds 10 different records, including the most race starts in history.

The work of a Formula 1 driver is not just about pleasure - the temperature in the cockpit averages 45-50 degrees Celsius, and drivers lose around 3 kilograms during a race. Additionally, there are about 25 switches on the steering wheel of the car, each playing a crucial role, and a mistake can cost valuable seconds.

F1 – schedule, classification

When it comes to the F1 schedule, in the 75th anniversary Grand Prix we will see a record number of races. There will be a total of 24 races, including 6 sprints (mini races of 100 km). The season started in March in Bahrain and will only end in December in Abu Dhabi. The world champion title is defended by Max Emilian Verstappen, who is from Belgium but represents the Netherlands (he comes from a mixed family). Verstappen is the favorite in this edition and has already won most of the races, leading the F1 drivers' standings.

As for the constructors, Red Bull is defending the chassis title (and currently leading), while Honda RBPT is leading in the engine category. The most successful constructor in history, however, is Ferrari - with 16 titles in both categories.

F1 live – where to watch?

Formula 1 races have many fans, it is an extremely spectacular sport (it is also the most expensive and prestigious motor sport in the world), which is why live F1 broadcasts are available on many different channels. In Europe, Viaplay has dominated the rights to broadcast, but it is always worth checking the exact schedule on our website.