Formula 1 articles archive

The Formula 1 world championship began in 1950 and is considered the world’s leading form of single-seater motorsport. The 2024 F1 season is the 75th time the world championship has been held.

The 2024 Formula 1 season will start in Bahrain
Bahrain is the venue of the first Formula 1 race of 2024
A world drivers’ champion has been crowned every year since the series began. Since 1958 a world constructors’ championship title has also been awarded.

The most successful F1 drivers in history are seven-times world champions Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher. In 2021 the former became the first and so far only driver to date to win 100 grands prix.

While Schumacher retired from F1 at the end of 2012, Hamilton continues to race. His rival world champions in the series are Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso.

There are 10 teams active in the championship, each of which field cars for two drivers. Each team is required to design and build the majority of its cars but may source some parts including engines, gearboxes and certain other components.

Ferrari has won the F1 constructors’ championship more times than any other team, with 16 titles. It is also the only team which has competed in every championship since the first season of Formula 1.

The Formula 1 calendar typically runs from March to November each year. Pre-season tests take place in February and March, and a post-season test is usually scheduled for late November or December.

A championship now includes over three times as many rounds as early seasons did. Seven rounds counted towards the first world championship – including the Indianapolis 500, despite it being run to different rules – but a record-breaking 24 races are scheduled on the 2024 F1 calendar. The series visits Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Asia and Australasia. It has not raced in Africa since 1993.

Two organisations are responsible for running F1. The Federation Internazionale de l’Automobile (FIA), based in Paris, France, administers and governs the sport. Its commercial rights are leased to Formula 1 Management (FOM) which was purchased by the US-based Liberty Media in 2017.

Index of F1 articles on RaceFans:

Review: “Unless I’m very much mistaken: My autobiography” by Murray Walker

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Murray Walker must be the most famous person associated with Formula 1 who is not one of the drivers. Bernie Ecclestone may have all the money and power – but even he lacks the public profile of the national institution that is Murray Walker. After laying down his microphone for the final time at the … Continue reading Review: “Unless I’m very much mistaken: My autobiography” by Murray Walker

“The Cruel Sport” (Robert Daley, 2005)

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Having recently looked at Dr Stephen Olvey’s “Rapid Response” on safety in CART racing, I thought it would be a good time to review a similar book on the dangers of earlier Formula One. The Cruel Sport was first published in 1963. Journalist and photographer Robert Daley covered F1 for the New York Times but … Continue reading “The Cruel Sport” (Robert Daley, 2005)

“Schumacher: The Life of the New Formula 1 Champion” (Timothy Collings, 1994)

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Carrying on our recent theme of Michael Schumacher book reviews, this very early book dates back to the winter of 1994 when the German had just seized his first world championship. This book makes especially interesting reading in the light of everything Schumacher has accomplished in the 12 years since his first World Drivers’ Championship. … Continue reading “Schumacher: The Life of the New Formula 1 Champion” (Timothy Collings, 1994)

So much for safety

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Max Mosley’s 1994 refuelling rules have gone up in smoke. Twelve years after the reintroduction of refuelling and the reaction to the disasters at the San Marino Grand Prix, three important rules governmening how refuelling would be made ‘safer’ after Imola have all been dropped. These were Mosley’s words after Imola 1994:

Alonso, Schumacher and Senna: Three great first laps

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When you think of great first laps in Formula 1 you inevitably bring Ayrton Senna’s at the 1993 European Grand Prix to mind. But last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix saw a pair of scintillating starts – and I reckon one of them was better than Senna’s. Let’s take a look at all three in detail. … Continue reading Alonso, Schumacher and Senna: Three great first laps

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