For the uninitiated, F1 is the world’s most elite and high-tech racing series
Published Date – Tue, 28 Mar 23 at 09:36pm
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by Jayostu Chanda
On March 3, the 2023 Formula 1 season kicked off another long season of adrenaline, competition and fighting at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain.
So what is an F1 car?
For the uninitiated, F1 is the most elite and high-tech racing series in the world. This year, it consists of 22 races in different countries and circuits around the world. The race takes place on a closed track with straights and corners. A total of ten teams compete in the championship, each with two cars and one driver per car. This means that there are 20 cars racing against each other on a track at the same time.
What makes it unique?
Teams can compete against each other in three areas: Cars, Drivers and Strategy. Unlike most sports, here the car or equipment plays an extremely important factor in determining the championship winner.
The race weekend lasts four days. Thursday is media day and team setup. Friday includes two practice sessions and Saturday includes one practice session and one qualifying session. In qualifying, the drivers try to set the fastest laps possible, which determines the starting order or qualifying for Sunday’s race.
The race involves driving a certain number of laps on a track, depending on each track, totaling a certain distance, which varies from track to track. The race is won by the first person to cross the finish line after the specified number of laps at that track, with points awarded to each driver and team based on their finishing position. These points are added up throughout the season, with the driver and team with the most points winning their respective Drivers and Constructors Championships.
What teams are there and how many people are there?
There are ten teams, namely Ferrari, Redbull Racing, Mercedes AMG Petronas, McLaren, Williams, Haas, Alpine, Alpha Tauri, Alfa Romeo Sauber and Aston Martin. Each of these teams has a huge fan base and special mention must be made of the ‘Tifosi’, Ferrari fans who are legends in their own right.
who is the current champion
The current F1 world champion is Max Verstappen for Redbull Racing. Mercedes-AMG Petronas’ Lewis Hamilton is a seven-time world champion and a fan favorite.
What are some famous races?
The four famous races of F1 are Monaco Grand Prix, Silverstone Grand Prix (UK), Monza aka Temple of Speed (Italy) and Spa-Francorchamps or just Spa (Belgium). These races, along with the season opener and close, usually Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, are must-sees for any new F1 fan. As an added bonus, the night races are also spectacular (Singapore Grand Prix).
Understanding and following F1 starts with watching F1 races on a regular basis. This can start with just watching Sunday’s games and Saturday’s qualifiers, and then you can watch practices, warm-ups, in-season tests and everything else. It also means participating in communities and discussions.
Where can I watch F1 races?
In India, F1 has the official F1 app, as well as the F1TV app, where you can subscribe and watch races. There are also official F1 games, one for mobile phones, one for PC and consoles, and an F1 Manager strategy app. There’s F1 League (official league), F1 Play (prediction app) and F1 Race (official guide to F1 race locations).
YouTube Channels You Can Watch!
There are many YouTube channels that do a good job of explaining F1 to beginners and novices such as WTF1, Official F1 Channel, Driver61, etc. There are also many communities such as F1ndia which also has @f1ndia.meme on Instagram and many live screenings in major cities like Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Hyderabad.
What are the famous races in F1?
The four famous F1 races are the Monaco Grand Prix on May 28, the Silverstone Circuit (UK) on July 9, the speed temple Monza (Italy) on September 3, and the St. Par (Belgium). These races, along with the season opener and close, usually Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, are must-sees for any new F1 fan. As an added bonus, the night races are also spectacular (Singapore Grand Prix).
So jump on the F1 bandwagon and get ready for the ride of your life.
