Formula 1 racing is the world’s most exciting - and technically accomplished - racing event. With more than 400 million viewers and a global audience, Formula 1 is a popular sport you won't want to miss. From the engineering ingenuity of the race cars to the fervour surrounding Grand Prix events, many of the best automotive brands show up to this spectacle to battle for top spot on the podium. Whether you’re a seasoned F1 fan brushing up on one or two pieces of info, or a keen beginner looking to understand the sport, we’re here to cover some of the main questions people are asking about F1.
Here’s what you’ll find:
- How long is an F1 race?
- How many laps are in an F1 race?
- How many F1 teams are there?
- How does F1 qualifying work?
- How fast can F1 cars go?
- Do you have to make a pit stop in F1?
How long is an f1 race?
There are two parts to this answer: distance and time.
In terms of distance, F1 races must be at least 305km (just over 189 miles) long. Races often clock in slightly over this figure because the 305km mark will be hit during a lap, and racers are still required to finish that lap.
One track is exempt from this rule: on the Circuit de Monaco, racers are only required to complete 260.5km (just shy of 162 miles). This is because the Circuit de Monaco is laid out on the city streets of Monte Carlo.
With regards to time, races usually take about an hour and a half. The maximum length of a race is two hours: if the race is approaching two hours, a signal is given to drivers to let them know.
If a race is paused because of weather or a crash, this two hour maximum can increase to three hours.
How many laps are in an F1 race?
The number of laps in an F1 race varies depending on the course. Because races are 305km long (or 260.5km on the Circuit de Monaco), drivers complete as many laps as required to hit this distance.
- The shortest circuit used in the 2021-22 season was the Circuit de Monaco, clocking in at 3.337km and requiring 78 laps.
- The shortest circuit used for a 305km race was Circuit Zandvoort, whose 4.259km required 71 laps
- The longest track used in the 2021-22 season was the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps: 7.004km, or 43 laps
The TV driver board should show the current lap as well as the track’s total number of laps e.g. lap 2/66.
How many F1 teams are there?
A total of 10 teams (20 drivers) make up the current formula 1 grid.
How does F1 qualifying work?
There are 20 grid positions in an F1 race, and a process called qualifying is used to determine which drivers start where.
Qualifying takes place before each race. The session takes around an hour, and is broken into three stages - Q1, Q2 and Q3 - which work as follows:
- In Q1 all 20 drivers race. After 18 minutes drivers finish the lap they’re on. The final five finishers fill grid positions 16-20.
- In Q2 the 15 drivers race for 15 minutes, then at the end of that lap another 5 are knocked out to fill positions 11-15.
- In Q3 the remaining 10 drivers each have 10-12 minutes to set the fastest lap time possible. Positions 1 (pole position) to 10 are allocated from fastest to slowest.
Penalties can be incurred: these are applied after Q1-3 are completed.
How fast can F1 cars go?
Think about the length of a race - 305km - and the average time - 90 mins - and you get an impressive average race speed of about 203km/h (just over 126mph). F1 cars can accelerate from 0-60mph in roughly 2.6 seconds but have recorded as fast as 1.6 seconds.
Do you have to make a pit stop in F1?
A pit stop is a stop for drivers and race teams to make mechanical adjustments to their car. In F1, pit stops take place incredibly quickly: in a matter of seconds.
Due to regulation changes in 2010, F1 cars are no longer allowed to refuel in pit stops, meaning they must carry enough fuel for the whole race. This change was made to improve safety.
But a lot of people wonder whether F1 drivers are still required to make pit stops.
During periods of bad weather: unless using intermediate or wet-weather tyres, F1 rules dictate that each driver must make a pit stop. This is because they are required to use at least 2 different dry tyre compounds during a race.
Hopefully, answering some of the top F1 questions demonstrates just how incredible a sport this is. With world-class teams and racers pushing the boundaries of what’s mechanically possible, we can’t wait to see what the rest of the season holds.
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