Formula One Racing

Formula One racing developed from the Grand Prix races that were popular in Europe in the early 1900s.

It was not until after WWII that these races began to see rules or 'formulas' introduced and Formula One was born. Whilst Formula relates to rules, the significance of the number 1 is simply an indication that these are the most challenging set of motor sport rules to follow.

England had the honor of hosting the very first Formula One World Championship race back in 1950.

The very first World Championship title was won by an Italian called Giuseppe Farina who won whilst driving an Alfa Romeo.

Nowadays there are two World Championship awards offered each year. One for the winning driver and the other for the constructor.

There is no doubt that Europe remains the spiritual home of Formula One Racing even though many of the season's races now take place all around the World.

The Formula One Racing season runs from March to October each year with drivers and teams living a nomadic existence as they travel around the World from race meet to race meet for those eight months.

The layout of Formula One Racing circuits varies enormously. One thing they all have in common is the 'pit straight' which is, as the name suggests, a straight(ish) piece of track that runs parallel to the pit lane. It is from this stretch of track that the race starts and the winner sees the chequered flag at the end.

The rest of the circuit will consist of all manner of bends and challenges for the drivers to negotiate.

Formula One Racing takes place over a distance of 305Km and the number of track laps this equates to will obviously depend on the length of the circuit. Generally a Formula One Race takes between two and two and a half hours to run to the finish.

In addition to running on specially designed circuits, Formula One Racing also takes place on Street circuits too. Monaco is probably the most famous street circuit but there are others in Australia, Canada and Spain.

The Formula One Racing Cars are built in accordance with strict standards concerning weight and safety. There are a number of components that the FIA insists are common to all cars and details of these are included in the 'Formula' which is often changed from year to year (and sometimes in mid-season).

The cars combine the best of automotive design with the aerodynamics you might expect to see in the aviation industry. Don't let that comment confuse. No-one wants the cars to fly but by reversing the designs that allow an aircraft to stay in the air it is possible to make a fast moving car stick to the ground. Instead of generating 'lift' the aerodynamics are engineered to create 'downforce',

Formula One racing is an incredibly popular sport and because of the high audience figures it attracts the best of sponsors who foot the bill for this expensive sport. The sponsors recognise a good marketing opportunity when they see one. Having their brand name in front of millions of people for a solid two hours every other week is an excellent form of advertising. Let's not talk about the tax write-offs it allows either!

Formula One racing really does set the standard for all other forms of motor sport. It has a long, impressive history and continues to grow popularity.

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