1. What is Formula One?
In most of the world, you won’t hear people asking what F1 is. Still, for people who’ve been living under a rock (or just in the U.S.) Formula One can be a bit of a mystery. Here are the basics: Formula One is a type of open-wheel automotive racing. In open-wheel cars, the driver sits in a cockpit at the center of the chassis while the wheels stick out the sides. Considered by many to be the most challenging and exciting form of car racing in the world, Formula One is the most prestigious car racing series sanctioned by the Federation Internationale De L’Automobile (FIA). Currently, Formula One is the most popular form of car racing worldwide.
2. When and how did it get started?
While car racing has been popular pretty much since the invention of the car, and many Grand Prix races had been held across Europe, the first official Formula One race was held at Silverstone, in England on May 13, 1950. Formula One grew from a series of Grand Prix races held in other countries, but it wasn’t until the Silverstone race that the final rules and regulations that would govern the sport were laid down. From that first race (won by Giuseppe Farina driving an Alfa Romeo), Formula One has evolved into the exciting sport it is today.
3. When and where does it take place?
The Formula One calendar runs from March to November. A single season is made up of a series of races -– the 2010 season has 19 -– in countries ranging across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North and South American, as well as Australia. Races last for an entire weekend, with practice runs on Friday and Saturday and the full race on Sunday. Formula One races take place on a circuit, which has a mix of straight-aways and sections marked by hard curves and corners. Most races are held on specially constructed tracks, but others are held on open roads — sometimes through urban streets.
4. How fast can the cars go?
Let’s state the obvious: Formula One cars are race cars. They go fast. Each car is outfitted with a 2.4-liter V8 engine that makes more than 700 bhp. For a Formula One car, a 0-to-100 km/hour time of 2 or 2.5 seconds is not unheard of. Formula One cars can reach a top speed of 325 km/hour on straight-aways. In Italy this year, speeds reached 345 km/hour, which it the highest of the season. Of course, all that speed can be tough to manage, which is why Formula One cars have the latest engine, transmission, braking and safety technology -– not to mention extremely aerodynamic designs that help them slice through the air while controlling lift.
5. Who are the top winning drivers of all time?
Formula One racing has more than its fair share of legends. Three Formula One drivers have won four or more world championships: Michael Schumacher, Juan Manuel Fangio and Alain Prost. Schumacher holds the record for the most championships won, with seven, while Fangio has five and Prost has four. From there, five drivers have won three championships, including greats like Jackie Stewart and Ayrton Senna. In all, 14 drivers have managed to win the world championship more than once -– which is impressive when you consider that some drivers go their whole career without winning one.
6. What are the rules?
Formula One rules are very complicated and cover everything from the car and its components to maneuvers and behavior in pit stops and qualifying rounds. They even cover things like track and barrier construction. To make things even more confusing, FIA makes changes to the rules fairly often. For example, the 2010 season bans refueling during races and using wheel fairings. The new season also makes changes to the overall points system. To see the full and current list of Formula One rules, visit Formula1.com.
7. How dangerous is it?
Speeding along in a little cockpit at over 300 km/hour, there’s no doubt that Formula One racing is dangerous. It’s also safer than you might think: Drivers sit in a carbon fiber cockpit (often called the tub) that can withstand astounding crash forces. Other parts of the car are also incredibly strong. Wheel tethers must be able to withstand a force of six tons, and the cars are coated with Kevlar to ensure that if they do crash, they won’t leave carbon fiber shards on the circuit, which could lead to another crash. Circuits and barriers are also designed with safety in mind. Despite some truly horrific crashes almost every season, the last driver fatality in Formula One was in 1994.
8. Is it true Formula One cars can drive upside down in a tunnel?
As much as you might enjoy throwing your Ford Fiesta through curves and pretending you’re a Formula One driver, we guarantee you can’t do this: Formula One cars can drive through tunnels. Not impressed? They can do it on the ceiling of the tunnel -– upside down. The way this works is through downforce. As a car gets up to speed, it experiences lift, which is just what it sounds like –- the car lifts off the ground slightly. Lift compromises stability, so Formula One car designers combat it by designing cars that aerodynamically create lots of downforce. The downforce is made when air rushes around the car in such a way as to push it down on the ground. Modern Formula One cars can create 3.5 gs of downforce, so, theoretically, at high speeds, they could drive on a ceiling. Think about that the next time you’re stuck in tunnel traffic.
9. How long is each leg of the race?
Most Formula One races are about 300 kilometers long, and take about two hours to complete. The 300 kilometers isn’t done in one run. Instead, the circuits are between about three and six kilometers long, and each car does between about 49 and 80 laps to complete the race.
10. What does the name mean?
The name Formula One is a little odd –- it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with car racing, yet it’s become synonymous with the best the sport of car racing has to offer. Formula One got its name because FIA believes it represents the best combination of the rules and regulations of car racing. In essence, Formula One got its name because it’s the number-one formula for high-skill, high-excitement car racing that’s unmatched anywhere.
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