Formula 1, popularly known as F1, is often described as the pinnacle of motorsport. It is the perfect blend of speed, technology, and human skill. The rules and strategies might be overwhelming for newcomers, but once you understand the nitty-gritties, they unveil the fascinating depth behind every lap.
Being a team sport, Formula 1 serves as the highest class of international racing for single-seater formula racing cars, as per the official website.
The drivers take part in races, known as a Grand Prix, to aim for the prestigious F1 Drivers’ Championship. The teams compete for the F1 Teams’ Championship. The overall prize money depends on the position they secure at the end of the season.
It came up as a World Championship competition in 1950. On May 13 that year, the first-ever race was hosted at the Silverstone Circuit (a former Royal Air Force station) in the UK.
Formula 1 races are held across multiple cities around the world. The F1 calendar includes 24 races in 21 countries across five continents. The classic circuits include Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps and Suzuka, while recent additions are Las Vegas, Miami and Saudi Arabia. The 2025 calendar covers 24 Grand Prix weekends, including six Sprint races, from March till December.
Guide to Formula 1 Racing Rules and Strategy
Here is your one-stop guide to dive into the world of high-speed racing that features fierce competition and is backed by cutting-edge technology.
Teams and Drivers
In total, 10 teams and 20 drivers make up the current Formula 1 grid. This means that each squad fields two cars. The experience of drivers, who come from different regions, varies. Among these include World Champions like Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen to new racers like Oliver Bearman, Kimi Antonelli and Gabriel Bortoleto.
The F1 teams for 2025 are: McLaren (Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris); Mercedes (George Russel and Kimi Antonelli); Red Bull Racing (Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda); Ferrari (Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton); Williams (Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz); Racing Bulls (Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar); Haas F1 Team (Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman); Aston Martin (Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso); Kick Sauber (Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto); and Alpine (Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto).
Grand Prix weekend format
In a standard Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend, events take place over three days. Free Practice 1 and 2 are held on Friday, followed by Free Practice 3 on Saturday. Post that, qualifying rounds are held. These are split into three stages (Q1, Q2 and Q3). Five slowest drivers are eliminated from each of the Q1 and Q2 races. The top 10 grid slots are determined in the Q3 race, with the fastest driver getting the pole position for the Grand Prix on Sunday. It is held over a minimum distance of 305 kms.
Points System: The top 10 finishers earn points based on their positions in the race, with the 1st getting 25, 18 for 2nd and the 10th racer ending with 1. Also, bonus points are awarded for the fastest lap when the driver finishes in the top 10.
F1 Sprint weekend format
Taking forward the standard race weekend, the F1 Sprint format has been well-crafted to add more action to Friday and Saturday, ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix. It starts with an hour-long Free Practice session (FP1) on Friday. Post that, Sprint Qualifying takes place and is split into SQ1, SQ2 and SQ3 stages. Notably, each of these races last for only 12 minutes, 10 minutes and 8 minutes respectively.
The F1 Sprint covers an exciting 100km dash to the chequered flag, while there is no mandatory pit stop. Points are given here for top eight places, ranging from 8 points for the 1st position to 1 point for 8th. Saturday goes ahead with the traditional Qualifying format to set grid for the Grand Prix on Sunday.
Pit Stops
This is a significant part of Formula 1 racing as it serves critical purposes. During a pit stop, teams are required to perform various tasks, such as changing tyres, making all the necessary repairs and mechanical adjustments. At present, refuelling is banned in F1 and drivers need to make at least one pit stop to change tyres. This is because even the high-performance tyres, specifically designed for F1 races, degrade quickly and last only a portion of the race distance, as per F1 Chronicle.
Flags and safety
These are specific colored flags used to communicate track conditions during the race. These include:
Green Flag: The F1 race is in progress.
Yellow Flag: Caution, alerts drivers about slow zone ahead.
Red Flag: Race has been suspended, drivers need to return to the pits.
Checkered Flag: The F1 race has come to an end.
Black Flag: Driver is required to return to the pits (it is often used for a penalty).