Formula One (F1) also known as "Grand Prix", is the highest level of car racing defined by the motor sport's world governing body, Federation International of Automobile (FIA). The results of all the races in a year are combined to decide two annual World Championships, one for Driver Championships and one for Constructor Championships.
The speed of the cars in F1 race is very high, often greater than 320 km/h (200 mph). The performance of the cars is highly dependent on electronics, aerodynamics, suspension and tyres.
Europe is Formula 1's traditional center and remains its leading market but Grand Prix are held all over the world, with new races in Bahrain, China, Malaysia, Turkey and the United States since 1999. It goes on increasing and India is a possible venue in 2009. In 2007, total 17 races are going to be held and 9 are outside Europe. F1 is considered as the world's most expensive sport.
The number of Grand Prix held in a season has varied over the years. Only seven races comprised the inaugural 1950 World Championship. The number of races had stayed at sixteen or seventeen since the 1980s, and it reached highest to nineteen in 2005.
A Formula One race consists of several laps around a circuit. A typical circuit usually features a stretch of straight road on which the starting grid is situated. A typical circuit of Formula 1 varies up to several KM and the number of laps depends on the length of the circuit. There is a "Pit Lane" in every circuit, where the drivers stop for fuel and tyres during the race, and where the teams work on the cars before the race, is normally located next to the starting grid. In most of the cases the layout of the circuit runs in a clockwise direction.
Currently total 10 teams are participating in Formula One with two cars per team, therefore total 20 cars competing in a race. A Formula One Grand Prix event spans an entire weekend, beginning with two free practice sessions on Friday. After this, a qualifying session is held for Pole position, which decides the position of the cars for the race in two cars per row format. The pole position is decided by the time taken by a driver to complete the circuit i.e. one round of the circuit called "Lap". The driver completes the circuit in lesser time gets the first position on the grid and so on...
A light system above the track then signals the start of the race. Races are a little over 305 kilometers (190 miles) long and are limited to two hours. All the cars participate in the race one behind other in a two cars per row format. The final race is usually held on Sunday called Race Day. The race consists of several Laps depends upon the length of the circuit. During the race, drivers may make one or more pit stops in order to refuel and change tyres. The driver who first crosses the final Lap known as Chequered Flag will be the winner of the race. The first three drivers will go for podium to take the trophy with their National Anthem.
The motor sport's world governing body, FIA awards points to the top eight drivers and their respective teams of a Grand Prix.
- Winner - 10 Points
- Runner up - 8 Points
- 3rd - 6 Points
- 4th - 5 Points
- 5th - 4 Points
- 6th - 3 Points
- 7th - 2 Points
- 8th - 1 Points
The winner of the Driver Championship and Constructor Championship is decided by the most points collected by the drivers and teams respectively at the end of the season. If any drivers/teams have the exact amount of points the driver/team who has won more Grand Prix races during the course of the Season is declared the winner.
