Formula 1

Formula 1 is the abbreviation for Formula One, which is the highest class of open wheeled racing. The formula is the set of requirements and agreements to which all drivers and the vehicles must conform. A Formula 1 championship season consists of a series of seven races, called Grand Prix. These races take place on racing circuits built for that purpose and in some cases on city streets that are closed to the public for the duration of the event. One example where the race takes place on the streets of a city is the Monaco Grand Prix, held in Monte Carlo.

Over half of the Grand Prix races take place in Europe because this continent is considered to be the traditional centre for Formula 1 racing. The majority of Driver and Construction champions have come from the United Kingdom. New locations have been added in recent years, such as Bahrain, China, Malaysia, Turkey making these races international ones. Singapore is scheduled for addition to the list of venues for 2008 and India in 2012.

Formula 1 racing originated with the Grand Prix Motor racing of the early decades of the 20th century. Formula One, with its set of regulations, came into being after the Second World War. The first world championship was held in Silverstone, in Northamptonshire, England in 1950. The Italian driver, Giuseppe Farina, won this race and held the title the following year and from 1954 to 1957.

In the early races, the cars were mainly Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz, Ferarri and Maserati. These cars had been involved in the Grand Prix races before the war. These cars were front-engined, had narrow threaded tyres and contained either 1.5 litre super charged or 4.5 litre naturally aspirated engines. In 1954, the Formula 1 regulations limited the size of the engines to 2.5 litres. Changes in the designs of the cars came during the 1960’s and 1970’s. Aerodynamics began to play a part in the design of the cars and the suspensions were virtually solid.

A Formula 1 race takes place over the course of a weekend, with practice sessions for the drivers taking place on Fridays. In Monaco, however, the practice race takes place on Thursday, with an additional practice race on Saturdays. Third drivers, who do not compete in the race and are test drivers, are permitted to run in the free practice races on Fridays. After the practice run, there is a prequalifying race. In this race, all twenty-two cars are permitted to race on the track for fifteen minutes and the fastest times recorded. The slowest six cars will not be permitted to take part in the main racing event.