With the average annual cost of running a team—e.g., designing, building, and maintaining cars; staff payroll; transport—at approximately£193 million as of 2018, Formula One's financial and political battles are widely reported. TheFormula One Group is owned byLiberty Media, which acquired it in 2017 forUS$8 billion. TheUnited Kingdom is the hub of Formula One racing, with six out of the ten teams based there.
Formula One originated from theWorld Manufacturers' Championship (1925–1930) andEuropean Drivers' Championship (1931–1939). Theformula is a set of rules that all participants' cars must follow. Formula One was a formula agreed upon in1946 to officially become effective in1947. The first Grand Prix in accordance with the new regulations was the1946 Turin Grand Prix, anticipating the formula's official start.[1][2] BeforeWorld War II, a number of Grand Prix racing organisations made suggestions for a new championship to replace the European Championship, but due to the suspension of racing during the conflict, the new International Formula for cars did not become formalised until 1946, to become effective in 1947. The new World Championship was instituted to commence in1950.[3]
A Constructors' Championship was added in the1958 season.Stirling Moss, despite often being regarded as one of the greatest Formula One drivers in the 1950s and 1960s, never won the Formula One championship.[6] Between 1955 and 1961, Moss finished second in the championship four times and third the other three times.[7][8] Fangio won 24 of the 52 races he entered—still the record for the highest Formula One winning percentage by an individual driver.[9]
Promoters also held races following Formula One regulations outside the championship for many years.[10] These events often took place on circuits that were not always suitable for the World Championship and featured local cars and drivers as well as those competing in the championship.[11] For example,South Africa's domestic Formula One championship from 1960 to 1975 used locally built or modified cars in addition to recently retired world championship cars.[12] Similarly, theBritish Formula One Championship utilised second-hand cars from manufacturers likeLotus andFittipaldi Automotive fitted withDFV from 1978 to 1980.[13] The increasing cost of competition, however, made such competitions less common in the 1970s. 1983 saw the last non-championship Formula One race; the1983 Race of Champions at Brands Hatch, won by reigning World ChampionKeke Rosberg in a Williams-Cosworth in a close fight with AmericanDanny Sullivan.[11]
The first major technological development in the series wasBugatti's introduction ofmid-engined cars.Jack Brabham, the world champion in1959,1960, and1966, soon proved the mid-engine's superiority over all other engine positions. By1961, all teams had switched to mid-engined cars. TheFerguson P99, afour-wheel drive design, was the last front-engined Formula One car to enter a world championship race. It entered the1961 British Grand Prix, the only front-engined car to compete that year.[14]
In1962,Lotus introduced a car with an aluminium-sheetmonocoque chassis instead of the traditionalspace-frame design. This proved to be the greatest technological breakthrough since the introduction of mid-engined cars.[15]
Aerodynamicdownforce slowly gained importance in car design with the appearance ofaerofoils during the 1968 season. The wings were introduced by Lotus's owner,Colin Chapman, who installed modest front wings and a rear spoiler on hisLotus 49B at the1968 Monaco Grand Prix. In the late 1970s, Lotus introducedground-effect aerodynamics, previously used onJim Hall'sChaparral 2J in 1970, that provided enormous downforce and greatly increased cornering speeds. The aerodynamic forces pressing the cars to the track were up to five times the car's weight. As a result, extremely stiff springs were needed to maintain a constantride height, leaving the suspension virtually solid. This meant that the drivers depended entirely on the tyres for any small amount of cushioning of the car and driver from irregularities of the road surface.[18]
Beginning in the 1970s,Bernie Ecclestone rearranged the management of Formula One's commercial rights; he is widely credited with transforming the series into the multi-billion dollar business it now is.[19][20] When Ecclestone bought the Brabham team in 1971, he gained a seat on theFormula One Constructors' Association, and in 1978, he became its president.[21] Previously, the circuit owners controlled the income of the teams and negotiated with each individually; Ecclestone persuaded the teams to "hunt as a pack" through FOCA.[20] He offered Formula One to circuit owners as a package they could take or leave. In return for the package, almost all that was required was to surrender trackside advertising.[19]
The formation of theFédération Internationale du Sport Automobile (FISA) in 1979 set off theFISA–FOCA war, during which FISA and its president,Jean-Marie Balestre, argued repeatedly with FOCA over television revenues and technical regulations.[22]The Guardian said that Ecclestone andMax Mosley "used [FOCA] to wage a guerrilla war with a very long-term aim in view". FOCA threatened to establish a rival series and boycotted a Grand Prix, and FISA withdrew its sanction from races.[19] The result was the 1981Concorde Agreement, which guaranteed technical stability, as teams were to be given reasonable notice of new regulations.[23][24] The teams signed a secondConcorde Agreement in 1992 and a third in 1997.[23]
FISA imposed a ban onground-effect aerodynamics from1983.[25] But by then,turbocharged engines, whichRenault had pioneered in1977, were producing over 520 kW (700 bhp) and were essential to be competitive. By1986, a BMW turbocharged engine achieved a flash reading of 5.5 bar (80 psi) pressure, estimated to be over 970 kW (1,300 bhp) in qualifying for theItalian Grand Prix. The next year, power in race trim reached around 820 kW (1,100 bhp), with boost pressure limited to only 4.0 bar.[26] These cars were the most powerfulopen-wheel circuit racing cars ever. To reduce engine power output and thus speeds, the FIA limited fuel tank capacity in1984, andboost pressures in1988, before banning turbocharged engines completely in1989.[27]
The development of electronic driver aids began in the 1980s. Lotus began to develop a system ofactive suspension, which first appeared in 1983 on theLotus 92.[28] By 1987, this system had been perfected and was driven to victory byAyrton Senna in theMonaco Grand Prix that year. In the early 1990s, other teams followed suit, andsemi-automatic gearboxes andtraction control were a natural progression. The FIA, due to complaints that technology was determining races' outcomes more than driver skill, banned many such aids for the1994 season. This resulted in cars that previously depended on electronic aids becoming very "twitchy" and difficult to drive. Observers felt the ban on driver aids was in name only, as they "proved difficult to police effectively".[29][30]
Since Senna's and Ratzenberger's deaths, the FIA has usedsafety as a reason to impose rule changes that otherwise, under the Concorde Agreement, would have had to be agreed upon by all the teams. The resultant 'narrow track' era from1998 onwards, resulted in cars with smaller rear tyres, a narrower track overall, and the introduction of grooved tyres to reduce mechanical grip. According to the FIA, the objective behind this decision was to reduce cornering speeds and produce racing similar to rainy conditions by enforcing a smallercontact patch between the tyre and the track.[31]
No driver died of injuries sustained on the track at the wheel of a Formula One car for 20 years until the2014 Japanese Grand Prix, whereJules Bianchi collided with a recovery vehicle afteraquaplaning off the circuit, dying nine months later from his injuries.[32]
Michael Schumacher and Ferrari won five consecutive Drivers' Championships and six consecutive Constructors' Championships. Schumacher set many new records, including those for Grand Prix wins, wins in a season, and most Drivers' Championships.[33] Schumacher's championship streak ended on 25 September 2005, when Renault driverFernando Alonso became Formula One's youngest champion at that time (until Lewis Hamilton in2008 and followed bySebastian Vettel in2010).[34] In 2006, Renault and Alonso won both titles again.[35][36] Schumacher retired at the end of 2006 after 16 years in Formula One, but came out of retirement for the 2010 season, racing for the newly formed Mercedes works team, following the rebrand ofBrawn GP.[37]
During this period, FIA frequently changed the championship rules with the intention of improving the on-track action and cutting costs.[38]Team orders, legal since the championship started in 1950, were banned in 2002, after several incidents in which teams openly manipulated race results, generating negative publicity, most famously by Ferrari at the2002 Austrian Grand Prix.[39] Other changes included the qualifying format, the point-scoring system,[40] the technical regulations,[41] and rules specifying how long engines and tyres must last.[42] A 'tyre war' between suppliersMichelin andBridgestone saw lap times fall. At the2005 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis, seven out of ten teams did not race when their Michelin tyres were deemed unsafe for use, leading to Bridgestone becoming the sole tyre supplier to Formula One for the 2007 season by default.[43] On 20 December 2007, Bridgestone signed a contract that officially made it the exclusive tyre supplier for the next three seasons.[44]
Manufacturers' decline and return of the privateers
The three teams that debuted in 2010 all disappeared within seven years of their debuts.HRT (top) departed the series in 2012, whilstCaterham (middle), andManor (bottom) left in 2014 and 2016, respectively.
In 2008 and 2009,Honda,BMW, andToyota all withdrew from Formula One racing within a year, blaming theeconomic recession. This resulted in the end of manufacturer dominance of the sport. The Honda F1 team went through a management buyout to becomeBrawn GP, withRoss Brawn andNick Fry running and owning the majority of the organisation. Brawn GP laid off hundreds of employees, but won the year's world championships. BMW F1 was bought out by the original founder of the team,Peter Sauber. TheLotus F1 Team[45] was another, formerly manufacturer-owned team that reverted to "privateer" ownership, together with the buy-out of theRenault team byGenii Capital investors. A link with its previous owners, however, still survived, with its car continuing to be powered by a Renault engine until 2018.[46]
McLaren also announced that it was to reacquire the shares in its team from Mercedes-Benz.[47] McLaren's partnership with Mercedes was reported to have started to sour after the former was guilty ofspying on Ferrari).[48] Hence, during the 2010 season, Mercedes-Benz re-entered the series as a manufacturer after it purchased Brawn GP and split with McLaren after 15 seasons with the team.[49]
During the2009 season, Formula One was gripped by theFIA–FOTA dispute. FIA President Max Mosley proposed numerous cost-cutting measures for the next season, including an optional budget cap for the teams;[50] teams electing to take the budget cap would be granted greater technical freedom, adjustable front and rear wings, and an engine not subject to arev limiter.[50] TheFormula One Teams Association (FOTA) believed that allowing some teams to have such technical freedom would have created a 'two-tier' championship, and thus requested urgent talks with the FIA. But talks broke down and FOTA teams announced, with the exception of Williams andForce India,[51][52] that 'they had no choice' but to form abreakaway championship series.[52]
On 24 June, Formula One's governing body and the teams reached an agreement to prevent a breakaway series. It was agreed that teams must cut spending to the level of the early 1990s within two years; exact figures were not specified, and Max Mosley agreed he would not stand for reelection to the FIA presidency in October.[53] Following further disagreements, after Mosley suggested he would stand for reelection,[54] FOTA made it clear that breakaway plans were still being pursued. On 8 July, FOTA issued a press release stating it had been informed it was not entered for the 2010 season,[55] and an FIA press release said the FOTA representatives had walked out of the meeting.[56] On 1 August, it was announced that the FIA and FOTA had signed a new Concorde Agreement, bringing an end to the crisis and securing the sport's future until 2012.[57]
To compensate for the loss of manufacturer teams, four new teams were accepted entry into the 2010 season ahead of a much anticipated 'cost-cap'. Entrants included a rebornTeam Lotus—led by a Malaysian consortium includingTony Fernandes, the boss ofAir Asia;Hispania Racing—the first Spanish Formula One team; andVirgin Racing—Richard Branson's entry into the series following a successful partnership with Brawn the year before. They were also joined by theUS F1 Team, which planned to run out of the United States as the only non-European-based team in the sport. Financial issues befell the squad before they even made the grid.[58] Despite the entry of these new teams, the proposed cost-cap was repealed and these teams—which did not have the budgets of the midfield and top-order teams—ran around at the back of the field until they collapsed; HRT in 2012,[59] Caterham (formerly Lotus) in 2014,[60] and Manor (formerly Virgin, then Marussia), having survived falling into administration in 2014, at the end of 2016.[61]
A major rule change in2014 saw the 2.4-litre naturally aspirated V8 engines replaced by 1.6-litre turbocharged hybrid power units.[62] This prompted Honda to return to the series in 2015 as the championship's fourth power unit manufacturer.[63] Mercedes emerged as the dominant force, withLewis Hamilton winning the championship, closely followed by his main rival and teammate,Nico Rosberg, with the team winning 16 out of the 19 races that season.[64] The team continued this form in the next two seasons, again winning 16 races in2015[65] before taking a record 19 wins in2016,[66] with Hamilton claiming the title in the former year[67] and Rosberg winning it in the latter by five points.[68] The 2016 season also saw a new team,Haas, join the grid,[69] whileMax Verstappen became the youngest-ever race winner at age 18 inSpain.[70]
Mercedes won eight consecutive constructors' titles whilstLewis Hamilton won six drivers' titles during the beginning of the hybrid era.
After revised aerodynamic regulations were introduced, the2017 and2018 seasons featured a title battle between Mercedes and Ferrari.[71][72] Mercedes ultimately won the titles with multiple races to spare and continued to dominate until 2020.[73][74][75][76] In2021, the Honda-powered Red Bull team began to seriously challenge Mercedes, with Verstappen beating Hamilton to the Drivers' Championship after a season-long battle that saw the pair exchange the championship lead multiple times.[77]
This era has seen an increase in car manufacturers' presence in the sport. After Honda's return as an engine manufacturer in 2015, Renault came back as a team in 2016 upon buying back theLotus F1 Team.[78] In 2018,Aston Martin andAlfa Romeo became Red Bull and Sauber's title sponsors, respectively.[79][80] Sauber was rebranded asAlfa Romeo Racing for the 2019 season.[81]Racing Point part-ownerLawrence Stroll bought a stake in Aston Martin to rebrand the Racing Point team as Aston Martin for the 2021 season.[82] In August 2020, all ten F1 teams signed a new Concorde Agreement committing them to the sport until 2025, including a $145 million budget cap for car development to support equal competition and sustainable development.[83][84]
TheCOVID-19 pandemic forced the series to adapt to budgetary and logistical limitations. A significant overhaul of the technical regulations intended to be introduced in the 2021 season was pushed back to 2022,[85] with constructors instead using their 2020 chassis for two seasons and a token system limiting which parts could be modified introduced.[86] The start of the2020 season was delayed by several months,[87] and both it and2021 seasons were subject to several postponements, cancellations, and rescheduling of races due toshifting restrictions on international travel. Many races took placebehind closed doors and with only essential personnel present to maintainsocial distancing.[88]
In 2022, the F1 governing body announced a major rule and car design change intended to promote closer racing through the use ofground effects, new aerodynamics, larger wheels with low-profile tyres, and redesigned nose and wing regulations.[89][90]Red Bull emerged as the dominant force after the rule shakeup. The2022 and2023 Constructors' and Drivers' Championships were won by Red Bull and Verstappen, with multiple races to spare.[91][92][93][94]
In early 2024, the Formula One landscape underwent a significant change in the sphere of team sponsorships and collaborations. Having competed for five seasons under theAlfa Romeo name, Sauber introduced a title partnership with the online casinoStake, resulting in the team's new identity asStake F1 Team Kick Sauber. Sauber will hold Stake's sponsorship name until the end of 2025, after which it will become the Audi works team for the 2026 season onwards.[95][96]Scuderia AlphaTauri, Red Bull's junior team, dropped its name and took on sponsors from Hugo Boss and Cash App, becomingVisaCash App RB, or VCARB for 2024.[97] Also in 2024, Formula One announced partnerships withMattel to releaseHot Wheels die-cast cars,[98] and withLego, with the first new sets releasing in 2025.[99] In early 2025, Cadillac received final approval to join the Formula One grid as an 11th team for the 2026 season onward.[100]
A Formula One Grand Prix event spans a weekend. It typically begins with two free practice sessions on Friday and one free practice session on Saturday. Additional drivers (commonly known asthird drivers) are allowed to run on Fridays, but only two cars may be used per team, requiring a race driver to give up their seat. A qualifying session is held after the last free practice session. This session determines the starting order for the race on Sunday.[101][102]
The 2023 Pirelli tyres include (from left to right) the three slick compound tyres: soft, medium, and hard – and the two wet-weather tyre compounds: intermediate and full-wet.
Each driver is allotted four sets of intermediate tyres, three sets of wet-weather tyres and thirteen sets of dry-weather tyres for each race weekend. All unused tyres must be returned.[103]
For much of the sport's history, qualifying sessions differed little from practice sessions; drivers would have one or more sessions in which to set their fastest time, with the grid order determined by each driver's best single lap, with the fastest getting first place on the grid, referred to aspole position. From 1996 to 2002, the format was a one-hour shootout. Following this, the rules were changed again because the teams were not running in the early part of the session to take advantage of better track conditions later on.[104]
The current qualifying format, known as "knock-out" qualifying, was introduced in the 2006 season. It is divided into three stages, referred to as Q1, Q2, and Q3. Drivers may complete as many laps as they choose in an attempt to progress to the next stage, with the slowest drivers being eliminated at the end of each round. Any timed lap started before the end of that period may be completed and will count toward that driver's placement. The number of cars eliminated in each session is dependent on the total number of cars entered into the championship.[105]
Currently, with 20 cars on the grid, Q1 runs for 18 minutes and eliminates the slowest five drivers. During this session, any driver whose best lap takes longer than107% of the fastest time in Q1 will not be allowed to start the race without permission from the stewards.[106] In Q2, the 15 remaining drivers have 15 minutes to set one of the ten fastest times and proceed to the next period. Finally, Q3 lasts 12 minutes and determines the first ten grid positions.[107]
Each car is allocated one set of the softest tyres for use in Q3. The cars that qualify for Q3 must return them after session; the cars that do not qualify for round can use them during the race.[108] Any penalties that affect grid position are applied at the end of qualifying.[109]
2021 saw the trialling of a 'sprint qualifying' race on the Saturday of three race weekends, with the intention of testing a new approach to qualifying. The traditional qualifying would determine the starting order for the sprint, and the result of the sprint would then determine the start order for the Grand Prix.[110] From 2023, sprint races no longer impacted the start order for the main race, which would be determined by traditional qualifying. Sprints would have their own qualifying session, titled the 'sprint shootout'.[111] Sprint qualifying sessions are run much shorter than traditional qualifying, and each session requires teams to fit new tyres, mediums for SQ1 and SQ2, and softs for SQ3.[112]
The race begins with a warm-up lap, known as the formation lap, after which the cars assemble on the starting grid in the order they qualified. This allows drivers to check the condition of the track and their car, gives the tyres a chance to warm up to increase traction and grip, and provides the pit crews time to clear themselves and their equipment from the grid for the race start.[113]
Once all the cars have formed on the grid, the medical car positions itself behind the pack.[114] Five red lights are then illuminated at intervals of one second above the track; before being extinguished simultaneously after an unspecified time to signal the start of the race.[115] The start procedure may be aborted in the event of a serious accident or dangerous conditions or if a driver stalls on the grid or on the track in an unsafe position, signalled by raising their arm.[116] The race may also be started from behind the Safety Car if a racing start is considered excessively dangerous, such as in extremely heavy rainfall. There is no formation lap in such circumstances.[117]
Throughout the race, drivers may makepit stops to change tyres and repair damage. Three dry tyre compounds, with different durability and adhesion characteristics, are available to drivers. Under wet conditions, drivers may switch to one of two specialised wet weather tyres with additional grooves. Over the course of a race, drivers must make at least one pit stop and use two different available compounds.[118][a]
The race typically finishes when the leader has completed the predetermined number of laps. Positions for drivers on the same lap are then determined in the order that they cross the finish line. Lapped cars that have completed at least 90% of the distance are then classified according to their relative track position and number of laps completed. Races can, however, be paused or ended early if the conditions become unsafe. In the case of suspension, a ten-minute warning is given before the race is resumed behind the safety car.[120]
This role involves managing the logistics of each F1 Grand Prix, enforcing FIA rules and controlling the lights at the start of each race.[121] The race director can also refer incidents to the race stewards, who may give penalties, such as drive-through penalties (or stop-and-go penalties), demotions on a pre-race start grid, race disqualifications, and fines should parties break regulations. As of the2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, the race director isRui Marques, withHerbie Blash as a permanent advisor.[122][123]
In the event of an incident that risks the safety of competitors or tracksiderace marshals, race officials may choose to deploy thesafety car. This neutralises the race, with drivers required to follow the safety car in race order at reduced speed, and overtaking is not allowed. Cars that have been lapped may, if permitted by the race director, be allowed to unlap themselves in order to ensure a smoother restart. The safety car remains on the track until the danger is cleared. After it comes in, the race restarts with arolling start, with the leading car taking over its role until they reach the timing line. Pit stops under a safety car are permitted, and in many cases can offer a great advantage to teams who are able to pit and change tyres prior to the end of the safety car period.[124]
Mercedes-Benz has supplied a variety of itsAMG models to Formula One to use as the safety car since 1996.[125] From 2021 onwards,Aston Martin has supplied theVantage to share duties with Mercedes-AMGs.[126] Since 2000, the main safety car driver has been German ex-racing driverBernd Mayländer.[127] He is usually joined by FIA technical assistant Richard Darker, who relays information between the safety car and race control.[128]
In 2014, the FIA established an "accident panel" to investigate the circumstances surroundingJules Bianchi's fatal crash at theJapanese Grand Prix.[129] They were tasked with identifying measures to reduce the risk of similar incidents, particularly in situations where deploying a safety car is not justified and yellow flags alone are inadequate.[130]
One of the proposed recommendations was the introduction of a Virtual Safety Car period during which drivers must keep their lap times above a pre-determined minimum, also known as keeping a positive delta.[131] The system was first implemented during the2015 Monaco Grand Prix.[132]
Flags specifications and usage are prescribed by Appendix H of theFIA's International Sporting Code.[133]
Flag
Name
Meaning
SC Board (Safety Car)
Shown in conjunction with a yellow flag to indicate that the Safety Car is on track. Drivers must hold position and slow down.
VSC Board (Virtual Safety Car)
Shown in conjunction with a yellow flag to indicate that thevirtual safety car is in use. During this time, the drivers are given minimum sector times that they must stay above, otherwise they will be penalised.[134]
Yellow
Indicates a hazard on or near the track. Double waved yellows inform drivers that they must slow down, and be prepared to stop, as marshals are working on or near the track.
Green
Normal racing conditions apply. This is usually shown following a yellow flag or a safety car to indicate that the hazard has been passed. A green flag is also shown at the start of a session.
Yellow and red striped
Slippery track, due to oil, water, or loose debris. It is also 'rocked' from side to side to indicate a small animal on track.
Blue
Indicates that the driver must let faster cars behind them pass because they are being lapped. If a driver misses the flag three times, they can be penalised.
White
Indicates that there is a slow car ahead. Often waved at the end of the pit lane when a car is about to leave the pits.
Black and orange circle
Car is damaged or has a mechanical problem, must return to the pit lane immediately.
Black and white
Warns a driver about poor sportsmanship or dangerous behaviour. Can be followed by a Black flag upon further infringement.
Black
Indicates that a driver is disqualified. It can be issued after a black and white flag.
Red
Immediately halts the race or session when the conditions become too dangerous to continue.
Chequered flag
End of the practice, qualifying, or racing session.
Various systems for awarding championship points have been used since 1950. The current system, in place since 2010,[b] awards the top ten cars points in the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships, with the winner receiving 25 points. Points won at each race are added up, and the driver and constructor with the most points at the end of the season are crowned World Champions.[135]
A driver must be classified in order to receive points. As of 2025[update], a driver must complete at least 90% of the race distance in order to receive points. Therefore, it is possible for a driver to receive points even if they retired before the end of the race.[136]
From some time between the1977 and1980 seasons to the end of the2021 season, if less than 75% of the race laps were completed by the winner, then only half of the points listed in the table were awarded to the drivers and constructors. The half points rule was replaced by a distance-dependent, gradual scale system for2022.[137]
Ferrari (pictured withLewis Hamilton) have competed in every season of the championship.
A Formula One constructor is the entity credited for designing the chassis and the engine.[138] It is estimated that the major teams spend between €100 and €200 million ($125–$225 million) per year per manufacturer on engines alone.[139] If both are designed by the same company, they receive sole credit as the constructor (e.g.,Ferrari). If they are designed by different companies, both are credited, with the name of the chassis designer being placed before that of the engine designer (e.g.,McLaren-Mercedes). All constructors are scored individually, even if they share a chassis or engine with another constructor.[140] Entering a new team in the Formula One World Championship requires a $450 million up-front payment to the FIA, which is then shared equally among the existing teams.[141]
Since1981, Formula One teams have been required to build the chassis in which they compete.[142] This requirement distinguishes Formula One from series such as theIndyCar Series which allows teams to purchase chassis, and "spec series", likeFormula 2, which require all cars be built to identical specifications.[143][144] Despite this rule, however, two teams used chassis built by other teams in 2007.Super Aguri started the season using a modifiedHonda Racing RA106 chassis, whileScuderia Toro Rosso used the same chassis used as the parentRed Bull Racing team, which was formally designed by a separate subsidiary. The use of these loopholes was ended for 2010 with the publication of new technical regulations, which require each constructor to own the intellectual property rights to their chassis,[145]
Renault (pictured withNico Hülkenberg) have had an active role in Formula One as both constructor and engine supplier since1977 before withdrawing from the series in2026.
Every team in Formula One must run two cars in every session in a Grand Prix weekend, and every team may use up to four drivers in a season.[102] A team may also run two additional drivers during Free Practice sessions,[102] which are often used to test potential new drivers for a career as a Formula One driver or gain experienced drivers to evaluate the car.[155] Most drivers are typically contracted for at least the duration of a season,[156] with driver changes taking place in-between seasons.[157] Recent years, however, have seen a move away from this trend, with teams replacing drivers likeDaniel Ricciardo,[158]Logan Sargeant[159] andJack Doohan mid-season.[160]
Each competitor must be in the possession of anFIA Super Licence to compete in a Grand Prix,[161] which is issued to drivers who have met the criteria of success in junior motorsport categories and have achieved 300 kilometres (190 mi) of running in a Formula One car in 2 days.[162][161] Teams can also contract reserve drivers to stand in for regular drivers when necessary and develop the team's car.[163] With the reduction in testing, however, the reserve drivers' role mainly takes places on asimulator,[164] such asrFpro,[165] which is used by most of the F1 teams.[166]
Each driver chooses an unassigned number from 2 to 99 (excluding 17, which was retired following the death ofJules Bianchi)[167] upon entering Formula One and keeps that number during their time in the series. The number one is reserved for the reigning Drivers' Champion, who retains their previous number and may choose to use it instead of the number one.[168] At the onset of the championship, numbers were allocated by race organisers on an ad hoc basis from race to race.[169]
Permanent numbers were introduced for the1974 season. Teams were allocated numbers in ascending order based on the Constructors' Championship standings at the end of the 1973 season. The teams would hold those numbers from season to season with the exception of the team with the World Drivers' Champion, which would swap its numbers with the one and two of the previous champion's team.[170] New entrants were allocated spare numbers, with the exception of the number 13, which has only ever been used byDivina Galica andPastor Maldonado.[171]
A replica of the trophy given to the F1 World Drivers' Champion at the end of the season
As teams kept their numbers for long periods of time, car numbers became associated with a team, such asFerrari's 27 and 28.[169] A different system was used from1996 to2013. At the start of each season, the current Drivers' Champion was designated number one, their teammate number two, and the rest of the teams assigned ascending numbers according to the previous season's Constructors' Championship order.[170]
As of 2024[update], a total of 34 separate drivers have won the World Drivers' Championship, with Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton holding the record for most championships with seven.[172]Jochen Rindt is the only posthumous World Champion, after his points total was not surpassed despite his fatal accident at the1970 Italian Grand Prix, with 4 races still remaining in the season.[173]Drivers from the United Kingdom have been the most successful in the sport, with 20 championships among 10 drivers and 324 wins.[174]
Driving in Formula One is highly demanding physically. with drivers typically burning around 1,000 calories per hour and losing 2–4 kg (4–9 lb) of weight per race.[175][176] A key reason for the physical demands is the extremeg-force generated by driving at high speeds, with modern Formula One cars capable of generating forces of up to 6.5gs when cornering (i.e. feeling a force equivalent to six and a half times their body weight), 6gs when braking, and 2gs when accelerating.[177][178][179] Another factor is the high temperature inside the car, as the engine is mounted directly behind the driver. The temperature in the cockpit of a Formula One car can be as high as 60 °C (140 °F), and drivers have to wear several layers of fireproofclothing.[180][181] The steering wheel and brake pedal also require considerable strength to operate. Before the introduction ofpower steering in the 2000s, drivers had to cope with steering forces of up to 40–50 newton-metres (30–37 lb⋅ft),[182][183] while achieving maximum braking power requires drivers to apply around 150 kg (330 lb) of force to the brake pedal.[184]
Every extra kilogram of weight noticeably reduces a drivers performance, as such, they must be light - though a minimum limit of 82 kg (181 lb) has been enforced by the FIA "in the interests of well-being".[175][185] They also need to train on cardiovascular fitness since heart rates can, on average, exceed 170 bpm during a race.[186]
Drivers are not required to have competed at all levels to enter Formula One.British F3 has supplied many F1 drivers, with champions, includingNigel Mansell,[193]Ayrton Senna,[194] andMika Häkkinen[195] having moved straight from that series to Formula One.Max Verstappen made his F1 debut following a single season inEuropean F3.[196] More rarely a driver may be picked from an even lower level, as was the case with2007 World ChampionKimi Räikkönen, who went straight from Formula Renault to F1.[197]
World map showing the location of Formula 1 Grands Prix: countries marked in green are on the current race schedule, those in dark grey have hosted a Formula One race in the past.[c]
The number of Grands Prix held in a season has varied over the years. The inaugural1950 World Championship season comprised only seven races,[199] alongside several non-championship Formula One events.[200] These, however, came to an end in 1983.[11] The2024 season contained 24 races, the highest number of World Championship races in one season.[201]
Six of the original seven races took place in Europe;[199] the only non-European race that counted towards the World Championship in 1950 was theIndianapolis 500, which was held to different regulations.[202] Some of these races pre-dated the formation of the World Championship, such as theFrench Grand Prix.[203] Over time, the F1 championship gradually expanded to other non-European countries.Argentina hosted the firstSouth American Grand Prix in1953, andMorocco hosted the firstAfrican Grand Prix in1958. Asia and Oceania followed (Japan in1976 andAustralia in1985), and the first race in the Middle East was held in2004.[204] The 19 races of the2014 season were spread over every populated continent except for Africa, with 10 Grands Prix held outside Europe.[64]
TheBritish andItalian Grands Prix are the only events to have been held every Formula One season.[205] TheMonaco Grand Prix was first held in 1929 and has run continuously since1955 (with the exception of 2020)[206] and is widely considered to be one of the most important and prestigious automobile races in the world.[207]
All Grands Prix have traditionally been run during the day, until the inauguralSingapore Grand Prix hosted the first Formula One night race in 2008,[208] which was followed by the day–nightAbu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009[209] and theBahrain Grand Prix, which was converted to a night race in 2014.[210] Other Grands Prix in Asia have had their start times adjusted to benefit the European television audience.[211]
Formula One races are held onGrade A tracks, the highest grade-rating issued by the FIA for tracks.[236] Under the current regulations, circuit layouts and lap distances may vary considerably, provided that each Grand Prix covers a total race distance of 300 km (190 mi) to 305 km (190 mi).[237][f] While most tracks run in aclockwise direction, there are a handful of tracks in the Championship that run anticlockwise.[239]
A typical circuit features a stretch of straight road on which the starting grid is situated, with thepit lane normally located right next to it.[240] The pit lane is home to each team's garage, where cars are stored and serviced before a race. During apit stop, drivers enter the pit lane to change their tyres, receive repairs or aerodynamic adjustments from their pit crew, orretire from the race (if the car is in a condition to do so). Prior to the2010 season, pit stops also facilitated mid-race refueling of the cars.[241] Special pit roads and track markings help to make sure drivers pit and rejoin the track safely.[242]
Most of the circuits currently in use are specially constructed for competition, but the calendar also features several circuits that use converted public streets to varying degrees. These tracks includeMonaco,Melbourne,Singapore,Baku,Miami,Jeddah, andLas Vegas.[243] Three-time World championNelson Piquet famously described racing in Monaco as "like riding a bicycle around your living room".[244]
Circuit design to protect thesafety of drivers is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Several of the new circuits in F1, especially those designed byHermann Tilke, however, have also been criticised as lacking the "flow" of such classics asSpa-Francorchamps and Imola.[245] His redesign of the Hockenheim circuit in Germany, for example, while providing more capacity for grandstands and eliminating extremely long and dangerous straights, has been frowned upon by many who argue that part of the character of the Hockenheim circuit was the long and blinding straights into dark forest sections. These newer circuits; however, are generally agreed to meet the safety standards of modern Formula One better than the older ones.[246]
Modern Formula One cars aremid-engined, hybrid, semi-open cockpit,open-wheel single-seaters. Thechassis is made largely ofcarbon-fibre composites, rendering it light but extremely stiff and strong. The whole car, including the driver but not fuel, weighs only 800 kg (1,800 lb) – the minimum weight set by the regulations.[250] If the construction of the car is lighter than the minimum, it can beballasted to add the necessary weight. The race teams take advantage of this by placing this ballast at the extreme bottom of the chassis, thereby locating thecentre of gravity as low as possible in order to improve handling andweight transfer.[251]
Aerodynamicdownforce generated by the "wings" mounted to the front and rear of Formula One cars alongsideground effect created by low air pressure under the flat bottom of the car, plays a large role in determining its speed.[252] Downforce of 2.5 times the car's weight can be achieved at full speed, and a lateral force with a magnitude of up to 3.5 times that of the force of gravity (3.5g) in cornering.[253]
The other major factor controlling the cornering speed of the cars is the design of thetyres. From1998 to2008, Formula One did not use "slicks" as in most other circuit racing series. Instead, each tyre had four large circumferential grooves on its surface designed to limit the cornering speed of the cars.[254] Slick tyres were reintroduced by Formula One in the2009 season, and are now exclusively supplied byPirelli.[255] Formula One cars must also have four wheels made of the same metallic material, which must be one of twomagnesium alloys specified by the FIA.[256]Magnesium alloy wheels made byforging are used to achieve maximumunsprung rotating weight reduction.[257] As of 2022, the wheels are covered with standardised Wheel Covers, the wheel diameter has increased from 13 inches to 18 inches, and small winglets have been placed over the front tyres.[258]
For most of the 21st century, Formula One cars have useddouble wishbone ormultilink front and rear, with pushrod operated springs anddampers on thechassis, though there have been some notable exceptions. In 2009, theRed Bull RacingRB5 used a pullrod suspension at the rear.[259]Ferrari used a pullrod suspension at both the front and rear in their2012 car.[260] In2022, theMcLarenMCL36 and theRed Bull RacingRB18 switched to a pullrod front suspension and push rod rear suspension.[261][262]Carbon-carbondisc brakes are used for reduced weight and increased frictional performance.[263] The carbon material enhances the brakes by maintaining an effective performance under extreme heat. To optimise this, the brakes feature 1,000 ventilation holes, ensuring maximum performance and cooling.[264]
In2022, the technical regulations were altered considerably in order to reduce theturbulence produced by the aerodynamics of the car. This includes a redesigned front and rear wing, larger wheels with a lower tyre profile, wheel covers, small winglets, the banning of barge boards, and the reintroduction ofGround effect downforce production. These changes have been made to allow cars to follow another at a much closer distance, without extending the gap due to a lower downforce caused by "dirty air".[89]
ABMW Sauber P86 V8 engine, which powered their2006 F1.06
In 2014, the engines were changed from a 2.4-litre naturally aspirated V8 to turbocharged 1.6-litre V6 power units.[265] These run on unleaded fuel closely resembling publicly available petrol, get a significant amount of their power from electric motors and include energy recovery technology.[266] The 2006 generation of engines spun up to 20,000 rpm and produced over 580 kW (780 bhp). Following the engine specification freeze, this was reduced to 19,000 rpm with limited development allowed in2007 and 18,000 rpm in 2009.[267][268]
A wide variety of technologies, including active suspension, are banned under the current regulations.[269] Despite this, the current generation of cars can reach speeds in excess of 350 km/h (220 mph) at some circuits.[270] The highest straight line speed recorded during a Grand Prix was 372.6 km/h (231.5 mph), set byJuan Pablo Montoya during the2005 Italian Grand Prix.[271] During qualifying for the2016 European Grand Prix,Valtteri Bottas set a record top speed of 378 km/h (234.9 mph).[272]
As of 2019[update], each team may have no more than two cars available for use at any time.[273] Each driver is limited to four engines during a championship season unless they drive for more than one team.[h][274] They are also allowed one new gearbox for every six consecutive races and three power units per seasons, following which they incur grid penalties.[275][276]
For much of the sport's history, engine costs varied significantly between teams. In 2006, Honda, Toyota, McLaren-Mercedes, and Ferrari each spent an estimated $200 million, Renault $125 million, while Cosworth developed its V8 for just $15 million.[277] From 2007, however, the sporting regulations banned performance-related engine development.[278] The estimated cost of running a team was approximated to£193 million as of 2018.[279]
Formula One teams pay entry fees of $500,000, plus $5,000 per point scored the previous year or $6,000 per point for the winner of the Constructors' Championship. Formula One drivers pay aFIA Super Licence fee, which in 2013 was €10,000 plus €1,000 per point.[280]
There have been controversies with the way profits are shared among the teams. The smaller teams have complained that the profits are unevenly shared, favouring established top teams. In September 2015,Force India andSauber officially lodged a complaint with theEuropean Union against Formula One, questioning the governance and stating that the system of dividing revenues and determining the rules is unfair and unlawful.[281]
The cost of building a brand-new permanent circuit can be up to hundreds of millions of dollars, while the cost of converting a public road into a temporary circuit is much less.[282] TheShanghai International Circuit cost over $300 million,[283] and theIstanbul Park circuit cost $150 million to build.[284]
In the second quarter of 2020, Formula One reported a loss revenue of $122 million, and an income of $24 million. This was a result of the delay of the racing championship start due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. The company grossed revenues of $620 million for the same quarter the previous year.[285]
When Formula 1 began in 1950, the sport's governing body did not have any regulations limiting the spending of a team. Over time, this led to a teams with large budgets performing significantly better than their competitors.[286] For instance, in 2019, Mercedes, the Constructors' Champion, spent $420 million, while the lowest-scoring teams, Williams and Haas, spent only $125 million and $150 million, respectively.[287][288]
To curb the growing advantage that these wealthier teams gained from extensive track time, the FIA first introduced a ban on unlimited private testing, before eventually implementing a cost cap of $175 million in 2021.[289] It was reduced to $145 million soon after due to the economic turmoil caused by theCOVID-19 pandemic. It fell further to $140 million in 2022, before settling at $135 million for the next three years.[290][291]
Critics have argued that the cap might not be sufficient to close the gap in competition because it excludes certain expenses like driver salaries, compensation for the three highest paid-staff members, and marketing costs.[290] They have also contended that established teams could exploit existing infrastructures and resources accumulated over the years, thus maintaining their competitive edge despite the spending limits for the foreseeable future.
In practice, however, the cost cap seems to have helped teams maximise efficiency and foster innovation within their financial means. McLaren started the2023 season as the slowest car on the track, with their drivers finishing outside the points. Seven months later, they were the fastest car on the grid in both qualifying and race pace, and, in2024, they won the constructors' championship.[292]
A sign announcing that thesafety car (SC) is deployed
The expense of Formula One has seen the FIA and the Formula One Commission attempt to create new regulations to lower the costs for a team to compete in the sport.[293][294]
Following their purchase of the commercial rights to the series in 2017,[295][296]Liberty Media announced their vision for the future of Formula One at the2018 Bahrain Grand Prix. The proposal identified five key areas, including streamlining the governance of the sport, emphasising cost-effectiveness, maintaining the sport's relevance to road cars, and encouraging new manufacturers to enter the championship whilst enabling them to be competitive.[297]On 19 August 2020, it was announced that all 10 teams had signed the new Concorde Agreement.[298] This came into effect at the start of the 2021 season and changed how prize money and TV revenue are distributed.[299]
Formula One has initiated a plan to becomecarbon neutral by 2030. By 2025, all events should have become "sustainable", including eliminating single-use plastics and ensuring all waste is reused, recycled or composted.[300]
A report conducted by Formula One estimated that the series was responsible for 256,000 tonnes ofcarbon dioxide emissions in the2019 season, finding that 45% of emissions were from logistics and only 0.7% were from emissions from the cars themselves.[301][302]
In January 2020, FIA and Formula One signed the United Nations Sports for Climate Action framework.[303] From the 2021 season onwards, all cars increased the bio-component of their fuel, usingE10 fuel, rather than the 5.75% ofethanol previously used. This percentage is expected to grow again in the future.[89] In December 2020, the FIA claimed that it had developed a fuel with 100% sustainability to be used in Formula One from either 2025 or 2026, when new engine regulations come into force.[304]
Prior to the beginning of the2020 Formula One World Championship, F1 announced and launched the #WeRaceAsOne initiative.[305] The initiative primarily focuses on visible displays of solidarity in the fight against racism on Grand Prix Weekends, as well as the creation of a Formula 1 Task Force that will "listen to people from across the paddock [...] and make conclusions on the actions required to improve the diversity and opportunity in Formula 1 at all levels".[305] The move stems from the growing questions about racism and global inequalities perpetuated by the sport. Notably, the 75-year history of the World Championship has been dominated by European and white drivers, withLewis Hamilton, being the first and only black driver to ever compete in the world championship.[306]
In addition to organization-wide measures, individual teams have also acknowledged deficiencies in the sport's cultural and political activism. During the 2020 season, theMercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team conducted a study of its racial composition and found that approximately 95% of its workforce was white.[307] In effort to change this, they ran a black livery to promote anti-racism messages and also launched the Accelerate 25 programme.[308] The program vows that approximately 25% of all new hires to the team will come from underrepresented minorities in the series until 2025.[309]
The 20 drivers on the grid also stood in solidarity on multiple occasions in the fight against racism, both on and off the track. Following themurder of George Floyd in the summer of 2020, all twenty drivers wore "End Racism" shirts and took part in an organised anti-racism protest during the pre-race formalities.[310] In the following season, Lewis Hamilton remained vocal through his race weekend attire, with other drivers occasionally wearing change-demanding clothing.[311]
Since the creation of Formula One in 1950,five women have competed in a Grand Prix, only one of whom finished within the points.[312] The involvement of women in the Formula One paddock has ranged from team principals, race engineers and strategists to media and communications personnel.[313] With the release of the Netflix show,Drive to Survive, female viewership of the series has risen.[314] In 2019, 20% of the total Formula One viewership was female, and by 2022 this number had increased to 40%.[315]
Maria Teresa de Filippis was the first woman to compete in the series at the1958 Monaco Grand Prix. She drove in a total of five Grand Prix, racing under the Italian flag, and has been hailed a pioneer of women in motorsport.[316]
Lella Lombardi is the only woman to place within the points at a Formula One Grand Prix. She competed in three seasons, entering seventeen races and starting twelve.[317] After finishing sixth in the1975 Spanish Grand Prix, Lombardi became the first and only woman to score points during an official Formula Grand Prix. Due to the race not reaching full completion, half points were awarded, and Lombardi only gained 0.5 points.[312]
Giovanna Amati was the last female driver to attempt to qualify for a Formula One Grand Prix. In 1992, she was signed by Brabham and participated in three races—South Africa, Mexico, and Brazil—but failed to qualify for any of them. Amati faced significant challenges, including an underperforming car and limited testing opportunities. She was replaced by Damon Hill after Brabham struggled with financial difficulties and performance issues.[319] Her participation also marked the last time a female driver was officially listed on an F1 entry list untilSusie Wolff took part in free practice sessions for Williams during her four years with the team as a development driver.[320][321]
In 2022, Formula One announced the creation ofF1 Academy in an effort to "change perceptions and inspire the next generation of girls".[315][322] It is the only female single-seater racing championship.[323] Its inaugural championship was won byMarta García ofPrema Racing.[324] The establishment of F1 Academy has attracted significant levels of attention to women in motorsport.Netflix premiered a docuseries in 2025 about the academy.[325] In addition to this, companies likeTommy Hilfiger,[326]Charlotte Tilbury,[327] andPuma[328] have become sponsors due to its increasing popularity.[329]
Hannah Schmitz currently holds the role of principal strategy engineer atRed Bull Racing. She has been with the team since 2009 and has played a strong presence in its victories in 2021, 2022, and 2023.[332] In 2023, Schmitz won the McLaren Applied Female Engineer of the Year Award winner for her role within Red Bull Racing.[333]
Formula One is broadcast live or tape delayed in almost every country and territory and attracts one of the largest global television audiences.[336] The cumulative television audience for the 2001 season, which was broadcast to 200 territories, was calculated to be 54 billion,[337] and has since fallen to 1.55 billion.[338]
All broadcasters are provided with an identical world feed produced byFormula One Management.[339] Previously, this footage was provided by local broadcasters who had one feed for all, or two separate feeds – a feed for local viewers and a feed for international viewers. This approach was significantly criticised as viewers would tend to miss out on important action and incidents due to local biases.[340]
An enhanced package calledF1 Digital+ was launched by FOM in 1996, which included live broadcast of all sessions live as well as additional channels including onboard and pit-lane cameras. It was initially only offered in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, though it later became available in France, Italy, Spain, and the UK.[341] The service was never financially viable and was discontinued at the end of2002.[342]
The official Formula One website has live timing charts that can be used during the race to follow the leaderboard in real time.[343] An official application has been available for theApple App Store since 2009,[344] and onGoogle Play since 2011,[345] that shows users a real-time feed of driver positions, timing, and commentary.[346] On 26 November 2017, Formula One unveiled a new logo, which replaced the previous "flying one" in use since 1993.[347]
In March 2018, Formula One announced the launch of F1 TV, anover-the-top streaming platform that lets viewers watch multiple simultaneous video feeds and timing screens in addition to traditional directed race footage and commentary.[348] In April 2024, FOM launched afree ad-supported streaming television channel known as the Formula 1 Channel in theUnited States, which plays classic Grands Prix, documentaries, and analysis from past races.[349]
In the United Kingdom, several companies have retained the right to broadcast races. In 2012,Sky launched a dedicated channel,Sky Sports F1, which covered all races live without commercial interruption as well as live practice and qualifying sessions, along with F1 programming, including interviews, archive action and magazine shows.[350] BBC retained similar rights until 2015, when they ended their contract three years earlier than planned.[351] The free-to-air TV rights were picked up byChannel 4 until the end of the 2018 season.[352] As of 2025, BBC Radio 5 Live, 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds have rights to such coverage until 2028.[353]
In South East Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, Formula One is broadcast bybeIN Sports. In India, sessions are broadcast by streaming serviceFanCode and satellite television providerTata Play. In China, the rights are held byTencent,Guangdong TV, andShanghai TV.[336]
In the United States,ESPN has held the rights since 2013, carrying the broadcast and commentary feed provided by Sky Sports UK.[354] According toThe Athletic, the fee paid by ESPN is estimated at $90 million per year as of 2025, with the current deal set to expire after the 2025 season.[354] Ahead of the2025 United States Grand Prix, it was announced thatApple Inc. had acquired the U.S. rights to Formula One under a five-year deal; most coverage will be exclusive toApple TV subscribers, with practice sessions and selected races available for free.[355][356]
In Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland, the exclusive rights are held bypay TV broadcasterSky Sport.[336] The rights were previously shared with free-to-air channelRTL for many years, which had broadcast all Formula One qualifying and racing sessions since 1991, but lost its rights after the 2020 season due to being outbid by Sky Sport.[357] Despite no longer holding the rights themselves, RTL has broadcast selected sessions on free-to-air television and its streaming serviceRTL+ as part of various sublicensing agreements with Sky Sport.[358]
^The Portuguese Grand Prix featured on the2020 calendar following the cancellation of events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It featured on the2021 calendar for reasons unrelated to the pandemic.
^This is increased to five for teams using engines from a manufacturer or supplier in their first championship season.
^Bamsey, Ian; Benzing, Enrico; Stanniforth, Allan; Lawrence, Mike (1988).The 1000 BHP Grand Prix cars. Guild Publishing. pp. 8–9.ISBN978-0-85429-617-0. BMW's performance at the Italian GP is the highest qualifying figure given in Bamsey. The figure is from Heini Mader, who maintained the engines for theBenetton team, though maximum power figures from this period were necessarily estimates; BMW'sdynamometer, for example, was only capable of measuring up to 820 kW (1,100 bhp). Figures higher than this are estimated from engine plenum pressure readings. Power in race trim at that time was lower than for qualifying due to the need for greater reliability and fuel efficiency during the race.
^"The technology behind Formula One racing cars".The Press. 26 December 2005.rivalling the 1200hp turbocharged monsters that eventually had to be banned in 1989
^"Active suspension".Motor Sport Magazine. 7 July 2014.Archived from the original on 5 January 2022. Retrieved26 January 2022.
^Baldwin, Alan (17 February 2001). "F1 Plans Return of Traction Control".The Independent. Newspaper Publishing.
^Bart-Williams, Nadim (17 June 2023)."Timeline: The 50-year history of the Safety Car's evolution in Formula 1".formula1.com.Archived from the original on 14 January 2025. Retrieved14 September 2024.However, that all changed midway through the1996 season, thanks to an agreement that has lasted until this day. Formula 1 and Mercedes joined forces, giving the German manufacturer the responsibility of supplying the Official Safety Car for all races.
^abFearnly, Paul (5 December 2013)."F1's number conundrum".Motor Sport Magazine.Archived from the original on 4 February 2020. Retrieved4 February 2020.
^"International Sporting Code"(PDF). Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. 28 March 2007. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 6 August 2009. Retrieved30 August 2009.
^Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (31 July 2024)."FIA 2024 Formula 1 Sporting Regulations – Issue 7"(PDF). p. 4.5.4 The distance of all races, from the start signal referred to in Article 44.10 to the end-of-session signal referred to in Article 59.1, shall be equal to the least number of complete laps which exceed a distance of 305km, with the exception of the two following circumstances: a) The distance of the race in Monaco shall be equal to the least number of complete laps which exceed a distance of 260km.
^"Circuits". ESPN.Archived from the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved17 June 2012.
^Benson, Andrew (23 January 2017)."Bernie Ecclestone removed as Liberty Media completes $8bn takeover".BBC Sport.Archived from the original on 26 February 2020. Retrieved23 January 2017.Bernie Ecclestone has been removed from his position running Formula 1 as US giant Liberty Media completed its $8bn (£6.4bn) takeover of the sport.
^"F1 viewing figures drop".BBC Sports. 26 February 2002.Archived from the original on 7 April 2008. Retrieved10 March 2007.The cumulative figure, which exceeds the total population of the planet by many times, counts all viewers who watch F1 on any programme at any time during the year.
Arron, Simon & Hughes, Mark (2003).The Complete Book of Formula One. Motorbooks International.ISBN0-7603-1688-0.
Gross, Nigel et al. (1999). "Grand Prix Motor Racing". In,100 Years of Change: Speed and Power (pp. 55–84). Parragon.
Hayhoe, David & Holland, David (2006).Grand Prix Data Book (4th edition). Haynes, Sparkford, UK.ISBN1-84425-223-X.
Higham, Peter (2003).The international motor racing guide. David Bull, Phoenix, AZ, USA.ISBN1-893618-20-X.
"Inside F1".formula1.com. 2011.Archived from the original on 11 November 2011. Retrieved11 November 2011.
Jones, Bruce (1997).The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Formula One. Hodder & Stoughton.
Jones, Bruce (1998).Formula One: The Complete Stats and Records of Grand Prix Racing. Parragon.
Jones, Bruce (2003).The Official ITV Sport Guide: Formula One Grand Prix 2003. Carlton. Includes foreword by Martin Brundle.ISBN1-84222-813-7.
Jones, Bruce (2005).The Guide to 2005 FIA Formula One World Championship: The World's Bestselling Grand Prix Guide. Carlton.ISBN1-84442-508-8.
Lang, Mike (1981–1992).Grand Prix! volumes 1–4. Haynes, Sparkford, UK.
Menard, Pierre (2006).The Great Encyclopedia of Formula 1, 5th edition. Chronosport, Switzerland.ISBN2-84707-051-6
Miltner, Harry (2007).Race Travel Guide 2007. egoth: Vienna, Austria.ISBN978-3-902480-34-7
Small, Steve (2000).Grand Prix Who's Who (3rd edition). Travel Publishing, UK.ISBN1-902007-46-8.
Tremayne, David & Hughes, Mark (1999).The Concise Encyclopedia of Formula One. Parragon
Twite, Mike. "Formula Regulations: Categories for International Racing" in Northey, Tom, ed.The World Of Automobiles, Volume 6, pp. 701–3. London: Phoebus, 1978.
Although World Championship races held in 1952 and 1953 were run to Formula Two regulations, constructors who only participated during this period are included herein to maintain Championship continuity. Constructors whose only participation in the World Championship was in theIndianapolis 500 races between 1950 and 1960 are not listed.
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