FORMULA 1
Welcome to the exhilarating world of Formula 1, where speed, precision, and adrenaline converge in the ultimate pursuit of racing glory!
FORMULA 1
What is up Next ?
What is the layout?
The Race Weekend
FRIDAY
Two 1 hour Free Practice sessions (FP1 and FP2)
To make sure the car works as expected before any necessary changes are made.
Saturday
Final Free Practice session (FP3) and Qualifying
The three-stage qualifying session involves the slowest five drivers from the 18-minute Q1 phase eliminated, before five more go out of the 15-minute Q2 segment, leaving the final 12-minute Q3 segment. This sets the starting grid positions for the drivers.
Sunday
The Race
The main race where first place gets 25 points, second gets 18, third gets 15, and then the remaining top ten drivers get 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, and 1.
Sprint Weekend
A Sprint is a 100km race, usually lasting about 30 minutes, with no pit stops. It focuses more on dynamics than stategies.
Six of the 2024 races are Sprint weekends; China, Miami, Austria, Austin, Brazil and Qatar.
On a Sprint weekend, the Sprint Qualifying session replaces FP2 on a Friday afternoon and the Sprint itself replaces FP3 on Saturday, before qualifying for the Grand Prix happens as normal in the afternoon. The winner of the Sprint recieves 8 points, with points decending until P8.
Six of the 2024 races are Sprint weekends; China, Miami, Austria, Austin, Brazil and Qatar.
On a Sprint weekend, the Sprint Qualifying session replaces FP2 on a Friday afternoon and the Sprint itself replaces FP3 on Saturday, before qualifying for the Grand Prix happens as normal in the afternoon. The winner of the Sprint recieves 8 points, with points decending until P8.
Who is involved?
Key Players
Drivers
Teams
Circuits
Bahrain International Circuit
Sakhir, BahrainLaps: 57
Date: 2nd March
Jeddah Corniche Circuit
Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaLaps: 50
Date: 9th March
Albert Park Circuit
Melbourne, AustraliaLaps: 58
Date: 24th March
Suzuka International Racing Course
Suzuka, JapanLaps: 53
Date: 7th April
Shanghai International Circuit
Shanghai, ChinaLaps: 56
Date: 21st April
Miami International Autodrome
Miami, United StatesLaps: 57
Date: 5th May
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
Imola, ItalyLaps: 63
Date: 19th May
Circuit de Monaco
Monte-Carlo, MonacoLaps: 78
Date: 26th May
Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve
Montreal, CanadaLaps: 70
Date: 9th June
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
Montmelo, SpainLaps: 66
Date: 23rd June
Red Bull Ring
Spielberg, AustriaLaps: 71
Date: 30th June
Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone, Great BritainLaps: 52
Date: 7th July
Hungaroring
Mogyorod, HungaryLaps: 70
Date: 21st July
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Stavelot, BelgiumLaps: 44
Date: 28th July
Circuit Zandvoort
Zandvoort, NetherlandsLaps: 72
Date: 25th August
Autodromo Nazionale Monza
Monza, ItalyLaps: 53
Date: 1st September
Baku City Circuit
Baku, AzerbaijanLaps: 51
Date: 15th September
Marina Bay Street Circuit
Singapore, SingaporeLaps: 62
Date: 22nd September
Circuit of the Americas
Austin, United StatesLaps: 56
Date: 20th October
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
Mexico City, MexicoLaps: 71
Date: 27th October
Autódromo José Carlos Pace
São Paulo, BrazilLaps: 71
Date: 3rd November
Las Vegas Strip Circuit
Las Vegas, United StatesLaps: 50
Date: 23rd November
Lusail International Circuit
Al Daayen, QatarLaps: 57
Date: 1st December
Yas Marina Circuit
Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesLaps: 58
Date: 8th December
What does it mean?
Key Words
On the Track
- Apex: The apex is the point on a racing line at which a car is closest to the inside of a turn.
- Chicane: A chicane is a sequence of tight, alternating turns on a race track designed to slow down vehicles and create technical challenges.
- Sector: A sector is a portion of a racing circuit, typically divided into three sectors for timing and performance analysis.
- Safety Car: The safety car is a vehicle deployed onto the track during a race to slow down and control the in the event of an incident or hazardous track conditions.
On the Car
- Halo: The halo is a safety device mounted above the cockpit of Formula 1 cars to protect the driver's head from impact in the event of a crash.
- Chassis: The chassis is the main structural component of a Formula 1 car, comprising the frame to which the engine, suspension, and other components are attached.
- Front Wing: The front wing is an aerodynamic component mounted at the front of a Formula 1 car to generate downforce and control airflow over the car.
Tire Compounds
- Tire compounds refer to the different types of rubber compounds used in Formula 1 racing tires. These compounds affect the tire's grip, durability, and performance characteristics.
- Soft: They have the highest grip and performance but tend to wear out faster than harder compounds.
- Medium: They offer a balance between grip and durability, suitable for various track conditions.
- Hard: They provide excellent durability but may have less grip compared to softer compounds.
- Intermediates: They are ½ treaded, used when there is light rain or when the track is partially dry after the rain has stopped.
- Wets: They have deep treads designed to disperse water and provide traction in heavy rain conditions.
Flags
- Yellow Flag: A yellow flag, also known as a caution flag, is displayed by race officials to indicate a hazard or dangerous situation on the track. When shown, drivers must slow down, refrain from overtaking, and be prepared to take evasive action.
- Red Flag: A red flag is displayed by race officials to halt a race due to dangerous conditions, such as severe weather, accidents, or track obstructions. When shown, drivers must immediately stop on the track in a safe manner.
- Checkered Flag: The checkered flag is waved by race officials to signal the end of a race or session. It is waved as the lead car crosses the finish line, indicating that all other cars should complete the current lap and proceed to the pit lane.
- Blue Flag: A blue flag is shown to a driver to indicate that they are about to be lapped by a faster car. The driver receiving the blue flag must yield to the faster car at the earliest opportunity, allowing it to pass safely without impeding its progress.
Technical Terms
- Lock-up: A lock-up occurs when a tire loses traction under braking, causing it to skid along the surface of the track instead of rolling smoothly.
- Undercut: The undercut is a strategic manoeuvre in Formula 1 racing where a driver pits for fresh tires earlier than their competitors to gain track position through faster lap times before their rivals make their pit stops.
- Overcut: The overcut is a strategic manoeuvre in Formula 1 racing where a driver stays out on old tires longer than their competitors before making their pit stop, in order to gain track position through faster out-laps or by benefiting from their rivals being held up in traffic.
- Understeer: Understeer occurs when a car's front tires lose traction during cornering, causing the car to continue in a wider arc than intended.
- Oversteer: Oversteer occurs when a car's rear tires lose traction during cornering, causing the rear of the car to swing outwards, potentially leading to a spin.
Race Dynamics
- Aerodynamics: The study of airflow over and around the car, crucial for performance and efficiency.
- Degradation: Tire degradation refers to the gradual loss of performance and grip of a tire over the course of its use during a race.
- Slipstream: The slipstream, also known as drafting, is the area of reduced air pressure behind a moving vehicle where another vehicle can experience reduced drag and increased speed by closely following behind.
- Downforce: Downforce is the aerodynamic force that pushes a car towards the track surface, increasing traction and cornering grip.
DRS
DRS stands for Drag Reduction System. It involves the driver opening a flap in their rear wing to reduce aerodynamic drag and increase straight-line speed, it is activated in designated DRS zones of the track when a driver is within one second of the car ahead.