Written By: Eason Yu & Athena Yeh
From new circuit locations to Netflix docuseries, the global market has begun to open up for Formula One - previously a somewhat niche, Euro-centric sport that is now popular worldwide. As its prestige and intensity continues to seize the attention of new audiences, it is safe to say that F1 has reached its highest peak in history.
The Basics
F1, short for Formula One, is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars. Every season, typically from March to November, 20 professional drivers and countless team operational workers come together at a multitude of races around the world to participate in three straight days of intense competition called a Grand Prix. From Monaco to Shanghai to even the USA, F1 fans conglomerate at circuits every weekend to watch the thrill unravel; paired together with unexpected drama and the occasional accidents, it is probably one of the most exciting sports to watch - in contrary to the public stereotype of it being just vehicles driving around in circles.
F1 : historically
Motorsport has been around since the late 1800s, with the first ever race established in France by a local newspaper company; this event, from Paris to Rouen, was the pioneer of auto racing, thus beginning hundreds of years of history. Similarly French, Formula One originated from the European Motor Racing Championships in 1950, created as a motorsport event under the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) - a governing body with a referee-like role pushing for sportsmanship and fair access season-long. Throughout F1’s rich history, many talented drivers have scored a spot in its “hall of fame”, earning multiple championship titles and dominating for several seasons, from timeless athletes like Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Niki Lauda and James Hunt to household names such as Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso, these drivers all have one thing in common : their ability to stay calm under extreme pressure. Without endurance both physically and mentally, manoeuvring around tracks with numerous sharp turns and narrow straits at speeds up to 300 kph would practically be impossible. A driver specifically known for his intellectual tacts and inhuman bravery is current season leader Max Verstappen, a two-time world championship winner who managed to dethrone seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the 2021 season.
Drive to Survive
Drive to Survive, or DTS for short, is a Netflix docuseries that summarises one season of Formula One in typically 10 episodes. Throughout the year, camera crew members follow teams around the world to different races in order to capture the action live. Through interviews with drivers, team principals, and administrators, the show allows fans to get a glimpse of the personality of the people behind the wheel and indulges them in funny behind-the-scenes moments. Despite its somewhat useful nature in getting rookie fans situated into the sport, many deem ‘Drive to Survive’ as a gateway for “fake” fans with no real understanding of motorsports due to the over-exaggerated drama and tension that its producers build.
Since its creation, Formula One and the whole of motorsports in general have always aired on the side of eurocentrism, with scattered audiences across Asia and America. Though already globally exposed, the creation of this docuseries has paved a path for F1 into the global market - especially in America. Statistics show that before 2019 (pre-drive to survive), the average viewership of races was around 500 thousand; this number shot up to an astounding 1.2 million in 2022 after the show’s successful launch a few years prior.
Basic Operations
The structure of Formula One fluctuates. Depending on the distance between countries which races are held in, the sporting event happens either mostly weekly or biweekly, scattered around the year with months-long winter and summer breaks between. Spring break was a new edition to the F1 racing schedule this year due to conflict over the Chinese GP and pandemic regulations. Usually, race weekends consist of : 3 Free Practices, a Qualifying session split into 3 parts, and the highly anticipated finale : The Sunday Race.
Free Practice
Free Practice(FP) is a combination of three 90 minute long sessions where drivers are allowed to roam around the track freely. This is a time for drivers to get used to the landscape, and for teams to try out different tactics, strategic plans and test new car modifications. There are 3 FPs on the weekend, usually with 2 during Friday and 1 during Saturday before Qualifying. This differs on weekends with sprint races.
Qualifying
Qualifying happens during Saturday after the 3rd and final Free Practice session. Split into 3, qualifying is a process that gradually eliminates the slowest drivers on the grid as the event progresses. Q1, which everybody participates in, lasts for 18 minutes and eliminates drivers placed 16 to 20 on the grid. Q2 is 15 minutes and eliminates positions 11 to 15. The final stretch - Q3 - is 12 minutes and places the final top 10 of the grid for Sunday’s race. It is an event that decides the positions of drivers at the start of the race, so the higher the qualifying result, the further in front the driver will be. This is an advantage as the front row gets a head start on distance coverage and therefore a lead during the race as results are calculated by time taken to complete full laps around the track. The driver who qualifies first on Saturday is given the ‘Pole’ position and is awarded with a mini signed Pirelli tyre.
The Race
The Race begins on Sunday, where drivers compete to complete a set number of laps before the others, its length varying depending on the size of the circuit and track conditions. The weather is usually unpredictable, adding an element of excitement as unexpected things may happen. During the race, team engineers communicate with drivers through a radio to call out pit stops and changes in strategy. Flags are also a crucial part of the race, as it alerts drivers to things such as conditions ahead, crashes, incoming traffic and penalties. There are ten different flags in total, each with a different meaning.
Tyres can wear out quickly in races as the drivers push their vehicles to the extreme lap after lap. To maintain maximum performance, teams conduct pit stops where drivers make a temporary stop at their garage to switch into a new set of tyres; reasons for pit stops vary from changes in weather conditions to minor crashes. Pit stops are an example of team strategy, as mistakes can lead to the loss of positions, typically from either speeding in the pit lane or an unsafe release during a pit exit.
Red Flags, Yellow Flags, and Safety Car
Red flags are waived when major incidents or extreme weather conditions occur. When a Red Flag is waived, the race is temporarily stopped and all cars must enter the garage.
Yellow Flags are waived when a minor crash occurs, causing debris to build upon track. This situation can be easily resolved, so drivers are not required to leave the track. During yellow flags cars cannot overtake(get passed each other) and cars must be careful when entering the zone with the yellow flag.
Safety Cars are vehicles deployed to slow a race down due to the presence of debris or crashes. The moderated speed of the safety car allows a safe removal of obstructions on track and thus decreases driver endangerment. When the safety car is on track, vehicles are not allowed to overtake and must stay at a certain speed.
Points
Points are awarded based on the driver’s position at the end of a race. First place is awarded with 25 points, the second with 18, third with 15, and all the way down to the tenth place earning one point. The driver who completes a lap with the fastest time is also awarded an additional one point. These points are accumulated throughout the season, meaning that the driver and team with the most points at the end of the year will earn a championship title.
Conclusion
With its complicated structure and innumerable technicalities, Formula One is not the most beginner-friendly sport, which is why this guide, compiling basic knowledge and fan must-knows, is here to help. Depending on your location, F1 race live-viewings can be found either on their official website or the TV. (Taiwan-friendly notice : check out the ETA sports channels!!)
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