Probably one of the most global sports there is, Formula 1 is the highest level of car racing in the world. In over 70 years of history, F1 has provided people with unforgettable races, interesting characters, and historical performances, gathering a legion of fanatics around all corners of the globe.
Although the essence of it is pretty simple, Formula 1 has lots of rules and regulations that ensure drivers are safe and that races are disputed in a fair manner. In addition, technology is very important in the sport, and as it evolves so does the rules of regulations. Therefore rules and regulations in Formula 1 are never around for too long, especially those related to the cars and their engines.
The path to become a F1 is not an easy one. There are only a few seats available, and it takes a lot of effort and talent to make it into the highest category in motorsport. To race, Formula 1 drivers must have an FIA Super License. Being eligible for one is not as simple as heading down to the DMV and filling some paperwork, there are strict rules to getting a Super License. To be eligible to get a Super License, drivers must complete all of the following:
Super License points are awarded based on a driver's performance, and vary according to what position in the racing championship they finished, and racing in which category those results were achieved.
The qualifying session is when drivers do timed laps, which will ultimately determine the starting grid in the race the following day. In essence, the driver with the fastest lap starts from pole position, and the one with the worst starts from the last. Because the qualification's results have a direct impact on the race, drivers have to follow more rules, and are under constant watch by race stewards. In qualifying, must be careful to not slow down others who are trying to set their fastest laps. If they do so, penalties can be applied.
In qualifying, drivers must also follow the 107% rule, which states that a driver must be within 107% of the pole sitter's time. In the event that a driver cannot set a time in qualifying (and thus it is not within 107%), they can still race on Sunday, provided the race stewards authorize it, and they will start in the last place in the grid.
Naturally, the race on Sunday is the main event of a Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend. Drivers line up on the starting grid according to their qualifying times, and off they go. The race ends when the predetermined number of laps is completed by the drivers, and whoever finishes first, wins it all. Different races have a different number of laps, as circuit length varies. All F1 races must be around 190 miles long.
An important part of Formula 1 racing are the tires. They provide grip, and are a big part of strategy in Formula 1. F1 has Pirelli as its official tire supplier for all teams. Teams have 5 different types of tires to use:
Teams change tires at least once during a race, and may do so more times depending on how the race develops. One of the rules that teams must consider when thinking about their race strategy is that drivers must use at least two different types of tires.
Penalties are very common in Formula 1. There are several rules that drivers must follow to ensure the sport is safe and fair, and if one of those are broken, drivers get penalized.
There are many, many things that can lead to a penalty. In addition, penalties can be very subjective, as stewards (who are the "referees" in F1) changing from race to race. Such inconsistency has been criticized by drivers and fans. Nonetheless, they are still an important part of the sport. The most common penalties drivers get are:
In Formula 1 flags are used to signal something to the drivers. The most common flags used in F1 are:
Pit stops are when drivers stop by the boxes to change tires, and repair the cars when needed. In other times, teams would also re-fuel during pit stops, but that was banned in 2009. Quick pit stops are very important, as just a few extra seconds spent in the boxes can break a driver's race. There are around 20 people per team who work a pit stop, called the pit crew.
When entering the pits, drivers must follow a speed limit of 80 km/h, and receive penalties and fines if they go over it. Once the team is done changing tires, they are responsible for releasing the driver. One of the most common infractions is an "unsafe release" which is when a driver is released when another car is passing by.
Formula 1 teams must be constructors, that is, they must build and design their own cars, although some parts such as the engine and gearbox can be purchased from outside. There are strict rules as to how cars must be built, including size, frame, dimensions, engine, brakes, and much, much more. Keep in mind, Formula 1 cars are not all the same, there are different ways to achieve the speed and downforce necessary to be competitive, however, all must follow the rules.
Such rules are always evolving, making racing safer and more competitive. 2022 is set to be a big season for F1, as car and engine regulations will face major changes that are likely to scramble the grid, giving teams that haven't been successful a shot to be better and compete.
In Formula 1's long history, there has only been one driver to be excluded from the Driver's Championship, Michael Schumacher. Schumacher, who is also known for being a 7-time F1 World Champion and arguably the best driver ever, was banned from the 1997 championship, and was stripped of his second place championship finish. He was accused of intentionally colliding with Jacques Villeneuve to take him out of the race, which would've given Schumacher the World title.
There is no limit for how many pit stops a driver can take in a race. In an uneventful weekend, a driver will stop at the pits at least once, and two times tops. However, in races with changing weather and lots of chaos in the track, drivers will stop more. In 2011 British driver Jenson Button stopped a total of 6 times during the Canadian Grand Prix and still won the race.
There is no rule that says drivers must use wet or intermediate tires, however, it wouldn't be smart not to. Tires for wet conditions are made so that cars are still fast, despite the conditions. In addition, it is impossible and unsafe to use slick tires (dry track tires) in the rain.