Beginners Guide to Formula One – Part 2
Since my own son has recently caught the Formula One bug, I wanted to explore the ins and outs of this world class racing event so that beginners can easily get their head around how it all works.
Following Part 1 of this guide which cleared up confusion by explaining what F1 is NOT, Part 2 will now discuss the elements which make this exciting sport stand out.
A Premier Worldwide Event
Firstly, what distinguishes Formula One from the numerous other racing events that happen around the year is that it’s a worldwide event, rather than a racing series hosted by a single country.
The competing teams come from across the globe and the drivers are from many different nationalities too.
Formula 1 races take place in a diverse range of countries, including North and South America, Asia, the Middle East, England and Europe. And with the season incorporating18 races on average, almost every race takes place in a different country. There are exceptions however, but every race takes place at different tracks.
The Cutting Edge of Motor Racing Technology
Without a doubt, Formula 1 is the absolute pinnacle of motor racing when it comes to car technology.
All cars must comply with the regulations of the International Automobile Federation and the different teams each spend nearly half a billion dollars per year building their car, which will compete in all 18 races. At the end of the season, the car is then binned and a new one built to be even more cutting edge for the following year.
F1 cars are built out of carbon fibre plus a range of exotic materials, all handcrafted at the team factories to give them that extra edge. In addition, their engines are the most powerful in the world within the IAF formula specified that year and their electronics are the most sophisticated. Using computer sensors, each team knows how every part of the car is performing at any time on the track during a race or test.
Ultimate in High-End
As mentioned in Part 1, the F1 teams each spend nearly half a billion dollars making their cars every year. And unlike many other series of open-wheel racing where a team may be able to buy a chassis for less than a million dollars from a racing car manufacturer, in Formula One, teams have to pay for a staff of highly qualified engineers and technicians to build a car from scratch. Plus, the best drivers are paid fortunes. This makes F1 the most expensive racing event in the world.
In addition, the sport has a huge number of sponsors who provide teams with the money they need and reap the rewards when millions of television viewers around the watch the races. Principle sponsors of some of the biggest F1 teams pay up to $50 million per year to have their names on the cars, which has led to Formula 1 advertising often being called the world’s fastest billboards.
Best Drivers in the World
This point can give rise to heated debates – whether the 22 to 24 drivers in F1 are the best racing car drivers in the world. Those who disagree say that some F1 drivers pay a team to race with it, rather than the other way around, meaning they get to race by having the funds rather than being the best.
But even though most drivers begin their careers by buying a position on a team, they’re still usually among the best drivers in the world – you certainly have to be skilled to drive a F1 car and compete adequately in the races, plus there are so many pay drivers available that they have to be excellent to win a chance to join a team. Also, let’s not forget that the funds which pay drivers bring to the sport helps pay for the car and the operation of the team, ensuring the cars are top notch.
Nevertheless, it must be said that the best drivers with a proven track record are paid fortunes by teams to drive their cars, not including the sponsorships, endorsements, etc they earn. To give you an idea, Michael Schumacher earned as much as $80 million per season when driving for Ferrari.
All in all however, most motor racing drivers recognise that driving in the F1 would be the pinnacle of their career, since they get to drive the best cars in the world on the best tracks. Since there are only 22 to 24 seats to fill and even tenths of a second can make the difference between winning and losing, they have to be the excellent to earn a place.
Best Tracks in the World
One of the things that exhilarates F1 fans is the amazingly challenging tracks that the cars compete on. While The Monaco Grand Prix in France has long been considered the centre piece of the season, other tracks are famous for the nail biting events they provide, such as Monza in Milan and Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.
Currently, Formula 1 has moved away from many of its traditional tracks and locations with the aim of becoming a true world series that is represented in every part of the globe. In addition, new tracks have emerged over the past decade which boast bigger sizes, better quality and more interesting locations. Grand Prix racing tracks have in fact become wondrous works of architecture and sporting facilities that would be hard to rival.
Conclusion
The above guide gives you a good idea of why Formula One stands out as one of the most exciting sporting events on the annual calendar. Now that the season is almost upon us, like me you’ll also want to get in the mood by buying some gear. The good news is that it’s easier than ever to do a F1 shop by going online. Let the games begin!
About the Author: Lucas Ives is a Formula One fan.
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