F1 Basics

How Formula 1 Works

What Is Formula 1, Really?

Formula 1 is:

  • The top level of single-seater motor racing
  • A world championship with races in different countries
  • 10 teams, 2 drivers each → 20 drivers on the grid

Every race weekend, drivers and teams fight for:

  • Drivers’ Championship – who is the best driver over the season
  • Constructors’ Championship – which team scores the most points

Think of it as a combination of:

  • Engineering war
  • Strategy game
  • High-speed chess
  • And a bit of soap opera

How an F1 Race Weekend Works

Most weekends follow this structure:

Practice Sessions

Usually:

  • Friday: Free Practice 1 (FP1), Free Practice 2 (FP2)
  • Saturday: Free Practice 3 (FP3)

Purpose:

  • Teams test different setups and fuel loads
  • Drivers learn the track and conditions
  • Nobody wins anything yet, but the data is crucial

Qualifying (Saturday)

Qualifying decides the starting order for the race.

Format:

  • Q1: All 20 drivers. Slowest 5 are out → positions 16–20
  • Q2: Remaining 15. Slowest 5 are out → positions 11–15
  • Q3: Top 10 fight for pole position → positions 1–10

The fastest lap time in Q3 = pole position (P1 on the grid).

Race (Sunday)

  • Race distance: usually around 305 km or 2 hours max (whichever comes first)
  • Standing start from the grid positions earned in qualifying
  • Strategy (tyres + pit stops) and racecraft (overtakes, defence) decide the result

How Points Work

Grand Prix (main race)

Points are given to the top 10 finishers in the full-distance race:

  • 1st – 25 points
  • 2nd – 18 points
  • 3rd – 15 points
  • 4th – 12 points
  • 5th – 10 points
  • 6th – 8 points
  • 7th – 6 points
  • 8th – 4 points
  • 9th – 2 points
  • 10th – 1 point

At the end of the season, the driver with the most points is the World Drivers’ Champion, and the team with the most combined points is the World Constructors’ Champion.

In shortened or stopped races, reduced points can be used depending on how much distance was completed, but that’s rare and handled by the FIA rules.

Sprint race Sprint race – points

On Sprint weekends, there’s a shorter race on Saturday. Only the top 8 finishers score points:

  • 1st – 8 points
  • 2nd – 7 points
  • 3rd – 6 points
  • 4th – 5 points
  • 5th – 4 points
  • 6th – 3 points
  • 7th – 2 points
  • 8th – 1 point

Sprint points are added to the same championship totals as the main race, so a strong Sprint can still move a driver up in the standings.

Tyres, Pit Stops and Strategy (The Simple Version)

Tyres are everything in F1.

There are usually three dry compounds available each weekend:

  • Soft – fastest, but wear out quickly
  • Medium – balanced
  • Hard – slower, but last longer

Plus:

  • Intermediate – for light rain
  • Full wet – for heavy rain

Race rules:

  • In a dry race, drivers must use at least two different dry compounds, which means at least one pit stop.

Why pit stops matter:

  • You can gain time by switching to faster tyres at the right moment.
  • You can lose everything with a slow pit stop or a bad tyre choice.
  • Strategies like undercut (pitting earlier for fresh tyres) and overcut (staying out longer) are all about timing.

What Is DRS and Why Does Everyone Talk About It?

DRS = Drag Reduction System

  • On certain parts of the track, if you are within 1 second of the car ahead at a detection point, you can open a flap in your rear wing.
  • This reduces drag and gives a speed boost, making overtakes easier.

It’s controversial, but for now it’s part of the show.
You’ll hear commentators saying things like “He’s now in DRS range” – that means he’s <1s behind and can attack.

Common F1 Terms (Without the Nonsense)

Some basics you’ll hear almost every weekend:

  • Grid: The starting formation before the race.
  • Pole / P1: First place on the grid.
  • DNF: Did Not Finish (retirement).
  • Understeer: Car doesn’t want to turn enough.
  • Oversteer: Rear of the car wants to spin out.
  • Undercut: Pit earlier to get fresh tyres & go faster consequently gaining time on someone who stays out.
  • Overcut: Stay out longer while the other car pits, hoping your pace is strong enough to jump them later.
  • Dirty air: Turbulent air behind another car that makes it harder to follow closely.
  • Safety car: Slows the field in dangerous conditions; can change strategy completely.
  • Virtual Safety Car (VSC): Everyone slows to a delta time, but cars keep their spacing.

You don’t need to memorise all of this at once. Watching a few races while glancing at this list is enough.

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