Formula One — or F1 for short — is the absolute top tier of open-wheel racing. Governed by the FIA (the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile if you want the extended version), where technology, elite drivers, and teams fight for the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles at over 200 mph.
The “formula” part? That’s a fancy way of saying every team and driver must follow a strict set of rules — from car design to race weekend protocols. The heart of the F1 season is the World Championship, which is a series of races called Grands Prix held at purpose-built circuits and iconic street tracks worldwide.
Drivers earn points based on how they finish in each race, and whoever racks up the most by season’s end is crowned World Champion. While a driver can technically clinch the title before the season wraps (once no one else can catch them in the points), the trophy itself isn’t handed over until the FIA’s annual Prize Giving Ceremony — a glamorous event that moves from city to city.
