Formula One Racing

Formula One racing, or Grand Prix racing, is the elite of all motor sports in the world. Most commonly known as F1 racing. The title Formula One racing refers to the rules, or "formula" that all cars and participants in Formula One racing must follow. These strict rules make Formula One racing the most competitive of all motor sports.

Formula One racing developed out of the early 1900s European Grand Prix racing. Early Grand Prix racing had a "formula" of rules for drivers and their vehicles. Following World War II an even stricter formula was developed. This new formula was referred to as Formula One, indicating that it was number one as far as being the most challenging set of rules to follow. The first Formula One World Championship race was held in England in 1950. Italian Giuseppe Farina holds the title of First World Champion Formula One driver. He won driving an Alfa Romeo. Formula One World Championships are now awarded in two divisions, one for the driver and one for the constructor, or builder, of the racecar.

Europe is home to Formula One racing. Over the years the Formula One racing venues have expanded around the globe. The circuit now includes races in Bahrain, Shanghai and Fiji as well as the more traditional locations of Monte Carlo and Magny-Cours. Less than half of the 2007 season Formula One races will be held in Europe. The Formula One racing season lasts from March through October each year.

Formula One racing or F1 racing's popularity has grown many times over in recent years. It really isn't that hard to see the appeal that the sport has to fans of all ages. F1 racing has gone from being an isolated sport for the wealthy people mainly in Europe to an international phenomenon.

The most obvious reason for the growing popularity is the uniqueness of the cars. Some of the most expensive cars in the world from high-end manufacturers are created just for F1 races. Formula One cars are built to take a lot of punishment, especially on their tires. A lot of care and thought not only go into the mechanical design, but the physical appearance as well. Red seems to be a popular F1 racing car option.

The top speed in which the drivers reach definitely draws in car enthusiasts alike who can appreciate a high-performance machine. Most drivers can reach speeds up to 108 mph and sometimes in excess of that. Fans are able to see these incredibly elaborate chassis and engines in action whenever a car zooms past them on the track. Before most grand prix's even begin, the excitement of the event usually starts long before the start flag is waved.

For the fans that arrive early in a race, they can see qualifying races between the drivers, track practices as well as the scheduled and non-scheduled maintenance of cars. The track itself can be quite an intricate feature of a race. Many twists and turns are added to these tracks, which are sometimes composed of asphalt or could take place on normal closed-off streets.

The merchandise behind the sport also fuels the popularity of F1 racing. Race inspired hats, jerseys, t-shirts as well as posters and other memorabilia are available to the truly devoted fans-for a price. The main producers of the products are sports car companies. These are the same companies whose own reputations have spurned the popularity of F1 racing.

Besides the popularity of F1 racing itself, many of the drivers of F1 cars have become many celebrities in their own right. They have sporty uniforms to wear and even sportier cars that are made by the best auto manufacturers in the world. European drivers have historically dominated the championship levels of the sport. That fact may contribute to the lesser popularity of F1 racing in America. The popularity of F1 racing drivers is more apparent in countries besides America.

Although Formula One racing had its formal debut in Europe, Americans are quickly catching on to the appeal. No longer are traditional races completely overshadowing the draw F1 races. The popularity of F1 racing can be noticed by the number of races that are now taking place in America. As of 2005, there were 19 official races in the United States for Formula One. That fact, and the fact that countries as far flung as Malaysia, Hungary and Japan to name a few, are participating to prove the growing popularity of F1 racing is a force with momentum.