Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport. The best drivers fight to be the fastest on the grid, with the most advanced cars in the world and racing in some of the most exotic locations on the planet.
It is not only a battle of drivers but also of teams, which invest large amounts of money to introduce the latest technology in the category, which offers great prestige if you win, with historic brands such as Ferrari and Mercedes.
The category is experiencing a boom in recent years, with millions of new fans around the world, after the success of the Netflix series \”Drive To Survive.\” So, let\’s take this moment to look at some facts about Formula 1 that every fan should know.
1. The First F1 Season Was In 1950
Car racing in Europe began to proliferate in the interwar period, during the 1920s and 1930s. Different countries began to host Grand Prix races that attracted drivers from all over the world, who competed with their cars, and later the major car brands of the time began to enter them as well.
However, it was not until after World War II, after the creation of the Fédération Internationale de l\’Automobile (FIA) that there was talk of organizing a world championship. In 1949 a drivers\’ world championship was announced for 1950 with 6 Grand Prix in Europe, plus the Indianapolis 500. Giuseppe \”Nino\” Farina won the first F1 drivers\’ championship, driving an Alfa Romeo.
That was the beginning of Formula 1 as we know it today, which was consolidated over the following decades.
2. 34 F1 Drivers Have Been World Champions
From 1950 to the present day, there have been 770 drivers who have started a Formula 1 Grand Prix. In 73 years, a total of 34 drivers have won the world championship. In 1950, as we said before, the first of them was Giuseppe \”Nino\” Farina, while the last one was Max Verstappen, who recently won the 2022 title, his second in a row.
Of all of them, the ones with the most titles are Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, with 7 each. The German won the 1994 and 1995 titles with Benetton and subsequently marked one of the most dominant periods in history with Ferrari, winning the titles in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004.
Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, won his first title in 2008 with McLaren, and with the advent of the hybrid era, he dominated the grid, winning all the titles from 2014 to 2020, with the exception of 2016, when he was beaten by his teammate Nico Rosberg. The Briton has broken all F1 records, being the best driver statistically in history, with 7 titles, 103 victories, and 188 podiums.
3. Ferrari Is The Most Successful Team In F1 History
With 16 constructors and 15 driver\’s championships, Ferrari is the most successful team in the history of Formula 1. The Italian team, which is probably the most famous car brand in the world, has been competing in the category since the first season in 1950, being as well the longest-running F1 team.
Some of the greatest legends in Formula 1 history have driven and succeeded with Ferrari, such as Michael Schumacher, Alberto Ascari, Niki Lauda, and Kimi Räikkönen. However, Ferrari, having competed for so many seasons in the category, has also had difficult and uncompetitive periods.
The Prancing Horse\’s last drivers\’ championship was in 2007, and the last constructors\’ championship in 2008. However, as they have done on many occasions, we have no doubt that they will be back on top sooner or later.
4. F1 Cars Have Only 2 Pedals
During the first decades of the category, F1 cars, like road cars, had 3 pedals: one for acceleration, one for braking, and one for the clutch. However, technological advances over the following decades meant that by the 1990s, most teams removed the clutch pedal, using the concept of a paddle-shifted transmission, introduced by Ferrari in F1 in 1989.
Drivers change gears via paddles on the steering wheel, which means they can assign one foot to the accelerator and the other to the brake. They brake with the left foot and accelerate with the right.
5. F1 Cars Have 8 Gears
An F1 car changes gears through a semi-automatic sequential transmission. Since the start of the hybrid era in 2014, Formula 1 cars feature 8 forward gears and one reverse gear. The driver can select the left paddle to shift up or the right-hand paddle to shift down.
Before the hybrid era, Formula 1 cars had 7 gears, but this was increased in 2014 with the new engines because it is more efficient, as the car does not have to reach as many rpm when changing gears. The gears of F1 cars have varied over time, having had 4, 5, and 6 gears in the past.
6. F1 Drivers Lose 2-3 Kilos Per Race
Although it looks straightforward on TV, Formula 1 is a physically demanding sport requiring great fitness. Drivers experience incredible G-forces during races while going over 200 kilometers per hour and with the cockpit that can reach around 50°C.
These conditions cause the drivers to lose around 2 to 3 kilos of sweat during the 2-hour race, and they also end up exhausted after the physical exercise. Before each Grand Prix, the drivers prepare very well and train every day like any other top-level athlete.
The neck, arms, and legs are some of the most important parts of training. The neck is the most delicate point, which is subject to all the G-forces, and that is why all F1 drivers have very strong necks.
7. F1 Cars Cost About $20 Million
Formula 1 cars are the most advanced cars in the world, built to perform at peak performance under extreme conditions. Formula 1 cars are built almost by hand through a process of thousands of hours, using the latest materials available, such as carbon fiber, which has incredible properties as it is lightweight and strong.
Developing a Formula 1 car costs between $150 million and $400 million, as teams invest that kind of money in technology, infrastructure, and personnel to get the fastest car. Each element is extremely expensive, with the engine being the most expensive of all, as just one can cost up to $18 million.
8. F1 Cars Have 25 Buttons On The Steering Wheel
Formula 1 cars are very complex machines. From the steering wheel, the driver can control any aspect of the car. With the passage of time and the introduction of technology, steering wheels have evolved from the classic circular shape to today\’s sophisticated steering wheels, which have 25 buttons.
Five of those buttons and switches change the car\’s brake settings, three other switches control the differential for corner entry, apex, and exit, and the rest of the buttons and switches have a variety of different purposes, such as pit lane limiter, activating DRS, activating the radio and changing the Power Unit settings.
9. Alonso Is The F1 Driver With The Longest Career
In June, Fernando Alonso broke Michael Schumacher\’s record for the longest career in Formula 1 history. His participation in the 2022 Baku GP occurred 21 years, 3 months, and 8 days after his first F1 appearance at the 2021 Australian GP.
With the exception of 2002, 2019, and 2020, the Spaniard has raced in every season since, participating in 352 Grand Prix and taking 32 wins, 98 podiums, 22 pole positions, 23 fastest laps, and 2 world championships. This is an impressive record, and the Spaniard is still active, so he will leave the old record far behind him.
Michael Schumacher is second on the list of drivers with the longest careers, with 21 years and 3 months from his first race at the 1992 Belgian GP to his last at the 2012 Brazilian GP. Behind him is Kimi Räikkönen, with a career of 20 years, 9 months, and 8 days and Rubens Barrichello, with a career of 18 years, 8 months, and 13 days.
10. F1 Pit Stops Last Less Than 3 Seconds
Pit stops are a crucial part of racing, during which drivers change tires and if damaged, also the front wing. Pit stops are a perfectly coordinated dance among the mechanics, which last only a couple of seconds if well executed. Like everything in F1, they have evolved significantly since the first decades, during which pit stops could last several minutes.
Each mechanic in the team has a specific role for the pit stop, which are put in place before the car enters the pits. The driver enters the pit lane, activates the speed limiter, and tries to stop in the pit in the right place, then exits and deactivates the limiter as he leaves the pit lane and rejoins the race.
The Red Bull team holds the record for the fastest pit stop in history. The energy drinks team successfully completed a 1.82-second pit stop at the 2019 Brazilian GP. During that season, Red Bull broke the record 3 times, as they completed a 1.91-second pit stop at the British GP, a 1.88-second pit stop at the Brazilian GP, and finally, the Brazilian pit stop.
11. Pirelli Is The Official F1 Tire Supplier
Since 2011, the Italian brand Pirelli has been the Formula 1 tire supplier. Since its first season in F1, the supplier has been varying its tires and has always opted for different types of dry and wet tires. Before Pirelli, Bridgestone was the official F1 tire supplier.
For 2022, there are 5 types of compound selection: C1, C2, C3, C4, and C5. The C1 is the hardest, and therefore the slowest, and the one that lasts the longest, and the C5 is the softest, the fastest, and the one that wears out the fastest. Depending on the characteristics of each track, Pirelli selects three of these five compounds (For example, C2, C3, and C4), which we will call hard, medium and soft in each race.
For rain, there are two types of tires, intermediate and full wet, and the use of each type of tire varies depending on how wet the track is. When it is drizzling, the intermediates, marked with a green, are used, and when it is raining heavily, the full wets, marked in blue, are used.
12. 5 Women Have Raced In F1
The history of Formula 1 has been marked by men, however, there have been 5 women who have defied the prevailing rules of the time, making their debut in the category. Of these, only 2 managed to qualify for a race. These have been the 5 women who have raced in F1:
- Maria Teresa de Filippis (1958-1959)
- Lella Lombardi (1974-1976)
- Divina Galica (1976-1978)
- Desiré Wilson (1980)
- Giovanna Amati (1992)
Italian Maria Teresa de Filippis was the first woman to ever race in Formula 1. She entered five races, scoring the best result of the tenth position in the 1958 Belgian GP. On the other hand, Lella Lombardi is the most successful woman to have raced in F1, as she is the only one to have scored points when she came sixth in the 1975 Spanish GP.
13. F1 Cars Can Accelerate From 0-100 km/h In 2.6 Seconds
Current Formula 1 cars can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in about 2.6 seconds, which, compared to road cars, is much faster. However, other categories, such as MotoGP bikes, also accelerate at a similar time, and even competitions, such as LMP1 cars, can beat a Formula 1 car.
Likewise, it is at higher speeds that F1 cars become unbeatable. A Formula 1 car can go from 100-200 km/h in about 1.9 seconds, something no other car can do. Another area in which they are unbeatable is in cornering due to the great grid they have.
14. The Minimum Weight Of An F1 Car Is 798 Kg
F1 cars have strict weight limits that they must meet, provided by the FIA, with the aim of making all teams as equal as possible.
This 798 kg is made up of the weight of the car with driver and tires but without fuel. The total fuel capacity of a Formula 1 car is 110 kg, so at the start of a race, with a full tank, the car weighs at least 908 kg.
More weight is a disadvantage, so all teams try to be as close to the limit as possible. If a car weighs below the weight limit, teams have to add ballast to meet the minimum weight and thus not have an advantage over the others.
15. Lewis Hamilton Is The Highest Paid F1 Driver
Formula 1 is a sport that moves and generates a lot of money, and it is no secret that F1 drivers are paid a lot of money. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has been the highest-paid driver for years.
The Englishman is estimated to be paid $40 million per season, making him the eighth-highest-paid athlete in 2021. Behind him are Max Verstappen, who is paid $25 million per season, and Fernando Alonso, who is paid $20 million per season.
On the other side is Yuki Tsunoda, who, at $750,000 per year, is the driver with the lowest salary.
16. 76 Circuits In Total Have Hosted An F1 GP
Since the first season in 1950, 76 circuits on 5 continents have hosted a Grand Prix. The only circuit that has remained present every year is Monza in Italy, which has hosted 72 Grands Prix. It is followed by Monaco, with 68 Grands Prix, and Silverstone, with 57.
Many circuits have been changing their configuration over time, according to the needs of the cars, and implementing new safety measures. Of all the circuits that have hosted a GP, Pescara, which hosted the 1957 Pescara GP, is the longest of all, at 25,800 km.
17. 52 Drivers Have Died In F1 History
In total, fifty-two drivers have died in accidents at FIA World Championship events or other events while driving Formula 1 cars. Most of the fatal accidents in F1 occurred during the early decades of the category, when there were few safety measures in place and during which a couple of drivers died per season.
However, over time, safety became a key issue, and the FIA progressively introduced safety measures to prevent the deaths of so many drivers, such as seat belts, better-quality helmets, and crash barriers.
The FIA\’s measures over so many decades have been a success, as fatalities have been reduced exponentially, making Formula 1 a fairly safe sport today.
The last F1 driver to die as a result of an accident was Jules Bianchi in 2015, following injuries from colliding with a crane that was on track during the 2014 Japanese GP. Before the Frenchman, Ayrton Senna was the last driver to die in 1994.
18. The F1 2023 Season Will Be The Longest In History
For the 2023 season, the FIA has announced a 24-race calendar, making it the longest season in history, which previously had been 21 races. The season will start on March 5 in Bahrain and end on November 26 in Abu Dhabi.
The great novelty is the new Las Vegas circuit, being the third American circuit on the calendar after Austin and Miami. Circuits such as Shanghai and Qatar will return to the calendar, which will have 9 back to back races.
| Date | Location | Track |
| February 23-25 | Pre-season testing | Sakhir |
| March 5 | Bahrain | Sakhir |
| March 19 | Saudi Arabia | Jeddah |
| April 2 | Australia | Melbourne |
| April 16 | China | Shanghai |
| April 30 | Azerbaijan | Baku |
| May 7 | Miami | Miami |
| May 21 | Emilia Romagna | Imola |
| May 28 | Monaco | Monaco |
| June 4 | Spain | Barcelona |
| June 18 | Canada | Montreal |
| July 2 | Austria | Spielberg |
| July 9 | United Kingdom | Silverstone |
| July 23 | Hungary | Budapest |
| July 30 | Belgium | Spa |
| August 27 | Netherlands | Zandvoort |
| September 3 | Italy | Monza |
| September 17 | Singapore | Singapore |
| September 24 | Japan | Suzuka |
| October 8 | Qatar | Lusail |
| October 22 | USA | Austin |
| October 29 | Mexico | Mexico City |
| November 5 | Brazil | Sao Paulo |
| November 18 | Las Vegas | Las Vegas |
| November 26 | Abu Dhabi | Yas Marina |
19. Two Father-son Pairs Have Won The F1 championship
Reaching Formula 1 is extremely difficult and becoming a world champion is even more so. Of all the young drivers in the world, only a tiny fraction make it to Formula 1, and of these, only a few win a title.
However, Formula 1 is full of incredible stories, and there have been two father-son pairs who have not only both made it to the category but have both been world champions.
The first pair are Graham and Damon Hill. Graham raced in F1 between 1958 and 1975 and won the 1962 and 1968 titles. His son Damon followed in his footsteps and in 1996 imitated his father, winning the title with the Williams team.
The other pair is Keke and Nico Rosberg. Keke raced in F1 from 1978 to 1986, winning the title in 1982. His son, Nico, triumphed in Formula 1 with Mercedes in 2016, beating his teammate Lewis Hamilton.
20. Verstappen Was The Youngest Driver Ever To Make His F1 Debut
Max Verstappen signed up with Red Bull\’s young driver program in mid-2014, and with just one year of single-seater experience, the young Dutchman, then 17 years old, was called up to take part in some free practice sessions for the Japanese and Brazilian Grands Prix.
Shortly afterward, Red Bull announced that Verstappen would drive for Toro Rosso in 2015, which surprised the whole world, not only because of his youth but also because of his lack of experience.
Verstappen made his F1 debut at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix, and at just 17 years and 166 days, he beat Jaime Alguersuari\’s record by two years. After that, the FIA announced that from that moment onwards, only 18 years and older could debut in F1, so it seems that the Dutchman will keep this record for a while.
