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A Beginner's guide to F1

Starting with the Basics: What is F1?

First of all, F1 stands for Formula One—the highest class of single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The term "Formula" refers to a set of rules that every participant must follow. Formula One held its inaugural season in 1950.

An F1 season consists of a number of races called Grands Prix, hosted by various countries. The number of races can vary each season but generally ranges from 19 to 22.

What About Drivers and Teams?

In the 2015 season, there were 20 drivers and 10 teams (also called constructors). Each team is allowed a maximum of two race drivers to participate in the championship. Teams also have test and reserve drivers, who may occasionally replace a main driver during a practice session.

Each driver selects a race number, which remains on their car and helmet for the entire season. All teams and drivers are sponsored by various brands and must adhere to the rules and regulations set by the FIA.

Now, the Racing.

An F1 Grand Prix weekend generally consists of three practice sessions—two on Friday (except in Monaco, where they take place on Thursday), and a final practice session on Saturday. Saturday also features the all-important Qualifying session, which determines the starting grid for the race.

Sunday is always Race Day—something I remind my dad almost every Grand Prix weekend!

What Happens During Qualifying?

The Qualifying session determines the starting grid—i.e., which driver starts from which position. Since 2006, qualifying has been split into three segments: Q1, Q2, and Q3.

With 20 drivers currently on the grid:

  • Q1 runs for 18 minutes. The slowest 5 drivers are eliminated.

  • The remaining 15 drivers move on to Q2, where another 5 are eliminated.

  • The final 10 drivers progress to Q3, where they compete for Pole Position (P1)—the front-most spot on the grid.

The Race

The race begins with a warm-up lap, also known as the formation lap. After this lap, the cars line up on the starting grid in the order determined by qualifying. The race officially begins with the starting light sequence—once the lights go out, it's “Lights out and we’re racing!”

During the race, drivers make pit stops to change tyres or repair minor damage. Each team and driver has their own race strategy based on factors like tyre wear and weather conditions. Over the radio, you'll often hear phrases like “Box, box, box”—this is code for “come into the pits now.”

Drivers can also be penalised during the race for rule violations or incidents like causing a collision. Penalties may also be issued for exceeding mechanical part limits (such as engines or gearboxes), and sometimes these penalties carry over to the next race.

Racing Flags

Understanding the flags is crucial in F1. Each flag communicates specific instructions to the drivers:

  • 🟡 Yellow Flag – Signals caution due to a hazard on track (e.g., debris or a stopped car).

    • A single waved yellow means reduce speed and be prepared to change direction.

    • A double waved yellow indicates a more serious hazard; the track may be partially or fully blocked. Marshals may be on track—drivers must be prepared to stop.

    If an incident severely affects safety, the Safety Car is deployed, neutralizing the race—overtaking is not allowed. Once conditions are safe, the race resumes with a rolling start. There's also a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) system where all cars must drive at a controlled speed without the actual safety car on track.

  • 🔴 Red Flag – Indicates that the race has been stopped. This can happen due to extreme weather or a major accident. When the race resumes, drivers line up in their previous grid positions.

  • 🔵 Blue Flag – Shown to slower or lapped cars, indicating that a faster car is approaching. The driver must move aside to let them pass.

  • 🏁 Chequered Flag – Signals the end of the race.


Points System

In Formula 1, drivers who finish within the top 10 earn points. The distribution is as follows:

  • 🥇 P1 – 25 points

  • 🥈 P2 – 18 points

  • 🥉 P3 – 15 points

  • P4 – 12 points

  • P5 – 10 points

  • P6 – 8 points

  • P7 – 6 points

  • P8 – 4 points

  • P9 – 2 points

  • P10 – 1 point

In addition, the driver who sets the fastest lap in the race (and finishes in the top 10) earns 1 bonus point.

Constructors (teams) also receive points based on the combined results of both their drivers.

At the end of the season:

  • The driver with the most points is crowned World Champion.

  • The constructor with the highest total points wins the Constructors’ Championship.

It's worth noting that the Drivers’ Champion and Constructors’ Champion are not always from the same team, although more often than not, they are.
Until the next race, 
Goodbye
(All Pictures Courtesy : Corbis Images)

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