Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship,is the highest class of international auto racing for single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, which became the FIA Formula One World Championship in 1981, has been one of the premier forms of racing around the world since its inaugural season in 1950. The word formula in the name refers to the set of rules to which all participants' cars must conform. A Formula One season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix (French for 'grand prizes' or 'great prizes'), which take place worldwide on purpose-built circuits and closed public roads.
The results of each race are evaluated using a points system to determine two annual World Championships: one for drivers, the other for constructors. Each driver must hold a valid Super Licence, the highest class of racing licence issued by the Federation Internationale de I'Automobile (FIA). The races must run on tracks graded "1" (formerly "A"), the highest grade-rating issued by the FIA. Most events occur in rural locations on purpose-built tracks, but several events take place on city streets.
Formula One cars are the fastest regulated road-course racing cars in the world, owing to very high cornering speeds achieved through the generation of large amounts of aerodynamic downforce. The cars underwent major changes in 2017, allowing wider front and rear wings, and wider tyres, resulting in peak cornering forces near 6.5 lateral g and top speeds of up to approximately 360 km/h (225 mph). As of 2019 the hybrid engines are limited in performance to a maximum of 15,000 rpm; the cars are very dependent on electronics and aerodynamics, suspension and tyres. Traction control, launch control, and automatic shifting, plus other electronic driving aids, have been banned since 2004 and 2008, respectively.
With the annual cost of running a mid-tier team—designing, building, and maintaining cars, pay, transport—being US$120 million, its financial and political battles are widely reported. Its high profile and popularity have created a major merchandising environment, which has resulted in large investments from sponsors and budgets (in the hundreds of millions for the constructors). On 23 January 2017 Liberty Media confirmed the completion of the acquisition of Delta Topco, the company that controls Formula One, from private-equity firm CVC Capital Partners for $8 billion.
Circuits[]
Current circuits (as of the 2022 season)[]
| Grand Prix | Location | Circuit |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Yas Marina Circuit |
| Australian | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Albert Park Circuit |
| Austrian | Spielberg bei Knittelfeld, Austria | Red Bull Ring |
| Azerbaijan | Baku, Azerbaijan | Baku City Circuit |
| Bahrain | Sakhir, Bahrain | Bahrain International Circuit |
| Belgian | Stavelot, Belgium | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps |
| British | Silverstone, United Kingdom | Silverstone Circuit |
| Canadian | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve |
| Dutch | Zandvoort, Netherlands | Circuit Zandvoort |
| Hungarian | Mogyoród, Hungary | Hungaroring |
| Italian | Monza, Italy | Autodromo Nazionale di Monza |
| Japanese | Suzuka, Japan | Suzuka International Racing Course |
| Las Vegas | Paradise, Nevada, United States | Las Vegas Strip Circuit |
| Mexico City | Mexico City, Mexico | Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez |
| Miami | Miami Gardens, Florida, United States | Miami International Autodrome |
| Monaco | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Circuit de Monaco |
| Qatar | Lusail, Qatar | Lusail International Circuit |
| São Paulo | São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil | Autodromo Josè Carlos Pace |
| Saudi Arabian | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | Jeddah Street Circuit |
| Singapore | Singapore | Marina Bay Street Circuit |
| Spanish | Montmeló, Spain | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya |
| United States | Austin, Texas, United States | Circuit of the Americas |
Upcoming circuits[]
| Grand Prix | Location | Circuit |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese | Shanghai, China | Shanghai International Circuit |
| Russian | Sosnovo, Leningrad Oblast, Russia | Igora Drive |
Former circuits[]
| Grand Prix | Location | Circuit |
|---|---|---|
| 70th Anniversary | Silverstone, United Kingdom | Silverstone Circuit |
| Argentine | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Autódromo Juan y Oscar Gálvez |
| Australian | Adelaide, South Australia, Australia | Adelaide Street Circuit |
| Austrian | Zeltweg, Styria, Austria | Zeltweg Airfield |
| Belgian | Heusden-Zolder, Belgium | Circuit Zolder |
| Nivelles, Belgium | Complexe Européen de Nivelles-Baulers | |
| Brazilian | Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Autódromo Internacional do Rio de Janeiro |
| São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil | Autodromo Josè Carlos Pace | |
| British | Aintree, United Kingdom | Aintree Motor Racing Circuit |
| West Kingsdown, United Kingdom | Brands Hatch | |
| Caesars Palace | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Caesars Palace Grand Prix Circuit |
| Canadian | Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada | Circuit Mont-Tremblant |
| Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada | Mosport International Raceway | |
| Dallas | Dallas, Texas, United States | Dallas Fair Park |
| Detroit | Detroit, Michigan, United States | Detroit Street Circuit |
| Eifel | Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany | Nürburgring |
| Emilia Romagna | Imola, Italy | Imola Circuit |
| European | West Kingsdown, United Kingdom | Brands Hatch |
| Castle Donington, United Kingdom | Donington Park | |
| Valencia, Spain | Valencia Street Circuit | |
| Baku, Azerbaijan | Baku Street Circuit | |
| Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany | Nürburgring | |
| Jerez de la Frontera, Spain | Circuito Permanente del Jerez | |
| French | Le Mans, France | Bugatti Au Mans |
| Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France | Charade Circuit | |
| Magny-Cours, France | Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours | |
| Gueux, France | Circuit de Reims-Gueux | |
| Orival, France | Rouen-Les-Essarts | |
| Prenois, France | Circuit Dijon-Prenois | |
| Le Castellet, France | Circuit Paul Ricard | |
| German | Berlin, Germany | AVUS |
| Hockenheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | Hockenheimring | |
| Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany | Nürburgring | |
| Indian | Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India | Buddh International Circuit |
| Indianapolis 500 | Speedway, Indiana, United States | Indianapolis Motor Speedway |
| Italian | Imola, Italy | Imola Circuit |
| Japanese | Oyama, Japan | Fuji Speedway |
| Korean | Yeongnam, South Korea | Korea International Circuit |
| Luxembourg | Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany | Nürburgring |
| Malaysian | Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia | Sepang International Circuit |
| Mexican | Mexico City, Mexico | Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez |
| Moroccan | Casablanca, Morocco | Ain-Diab Summit |
| Pacific | Mimasaka, Japan | TI Circuit Aida |
| Pescara | Pescara, Italy | Pescara Circuit |
| Portuguese | Estoril, Portugal | Autódromo do Estoril |
| Portimão, Portugal | Algarve International Circuit | |
| Porto, Portugal | Circuito da Boavista | |
| Lisbon, Portugal | Circuito de Monsanto | |
| Russian | Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia | Sochi Autodrom |
| Sakhir | Sakhir, Bahrain | Bahrain International Circuit |
| San Marino | Imola, Italy | Imola Circuit |
| South African | Midrand, South Africa | Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit |
| East London, South Africa | Prince George Circuit | |
| Spanish | Barcelona, Spain | Circuit de Pedralbes |
| Montjuïc circuit | ||
| San Sebastián de los Reyes, Spain | Circuito Permanente del Jarama | |
| Jerez de la Frontera, Spain | Circuito Permanente del Jerez | |
| Styrian | Spielberg bei Knittelfeld, Austria | Red Bull Ring |
| Swedish | Anderstorp, Sweden | Scandinavian Raceway |
| Swiss | Prenois, France | Circuit Dijon-Prenois |
| Bern, Switzerland | Circuit Bremgarten | |
| Turkish | Tuzla, Turkey | Istanbul Park |
| Tuscan | Scarperia e San Piero, Italy | Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello |
| United States | Speedway, Indiana, United States | Indianapolis Motor Speedway |
| Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Phoenix Street Circuit | |
| Moreno Valley, California, United States | Riverside International Raceway | |
| Sebring, Florida, United States | Sebring Raceway | |
| Watkins Glen, New York, United States | Watkins Glen International | |
| United States West | Long Beach, California, United States | Long Beach Street Circuit |
Broadcasters[]
| Country | TV broadcasters | Radio broadcasters | Internet broadcasters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | RTSH | ||
| Andorra | DAZN F1 | ||
| Argentina | Fox Sports | ESPN 107,9 FM | |
| Armenia Belarus Central Asia Georgia Ukraine |
Setanta Sports | ||
| Australia | Network 10, Fox Sports | 3AW | 10 Play, Foxtel Now, Kayo Sports |
| Austria | ORF eins, Servus TV, Sky Sport F1 | ||
| Azerbaijan | Idman Azerbaijan TV, Setanta Sports | ||
| Belgium | Play Sports, VRT, Tipik | ||
| Bosnia & Herzegovina Croatia Montenegro North Macedonia Serbia |
Sport Klub | ||
| Brazil | Rede Bandeirantes, BandSports | BandNews FM | |
| Bulgaria | Diema Sport | ||
| Canada | RDS, Noovo, TSN, CTV | SiriusXM | RDS+, TSN Direct |
| Caribbean | ESPN | ||
| China | CCTV, Great Sports, Guangdong Sports | Tencent Sports | |
| Cyprus | CytaVision Sports | ||
| Czech Republic | Sport1 | ||
| Denmark | TV3+, TV3 Sport 1, TV3 Sport 2, TV3 Puls, Viaplay | DR | Viaplay |
| Estonia Latvia Lithuania |
Viaplay | Viaplay | |
| Finland | V Sport | Viaplay | |
| France | Canal+, Canal+ Sport, C8 | MyCanal | |
| Germany | Sky Sport F1, Sport1 | Sky Go | |
| Greece | ANT1 | ANT1+ | |
| Hong Kong Macau Mongolia Papua New Guinea Taiwan |
beIN Sports | ||
| Hungary | M4 Sport | Kossuth Rádió | Mediakilkk |
| Iceland | Viaplay | ||
| Indian subcontinent | TBA | ||
| Ireland | Channel 4 UK, Sky Sports F1, Sky Showcase | ||
| Iran | MBC Persia, IRIB Varzesh | ||
| Israel | Sport 5 | ||
| Italy | Sky Sport F1, TV8 | Rai Radio 1 | Sky Go, Now |
| Japan | Fuji TV Next | DAZN | |
| Kosovo | Art Sport | ||
| Latin America | ESPN | Star+ | |
| Liechtenstein | SRG SSR, Sky Sport F1 | ||
| Luxembourg | RTL, Sky Sport | ||
| Malta | Total Sports Network | ||
| Mexico | Fox Sports, Canal 5 | ||
| Middle East & North Africa | MBC Action, Shahid (SSC) | ||
| Netherlands | Viaplay, NOS | NPO Radio 1, Grand Prix Radio | |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport, Prime | Sky Go, Sky Sport Now | |
| Norway | V Sport | Viaplay | |
| Pakistan | A Sports | ||
| Poland | Viaplay | Eleven Sports | |
| Portugal | Sport TV | ||
| Romania | Digi Sport, Digi 4K, Prima Sport, Orange Sport | ||
| San Marino | Sky Sport F1 | ||
| Singapore | Mediacorp Channel 5, meWATCH | ||
| Slovakia | Sport 1 | ||
| Slovenia | Sport Klub | Radio Val 202 | |
| South Korea | Coupang | ||
| Southeast Asia | beIN Sports | beIN Sports Connect | |
| Spain Andorra |
DAZN F1, Mediaset | Radio Marca, Cadena SER, Cadena COPE | DAZN |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | Supersport, Canal+ Sport | DStv Now | |
| Sweden | V Sport | Viaplay | |
| Switzerland | SRF zwei, RTS 2, RSI La 2, Canal+ Sport, Sky Sport F1 | ||
| Taiwan | Videoland, ELTA | ELTA OTT, Chunghwa Telecom Hami Video | |
| Tajikistan | Varzish TV | ||
| Turkey | S Sport | S Sport+ | |
| United Kingdom | Channel 4, Sky Sports F1, Sky Showcase | BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra | All 4, Sky Go, Now, BBC Sounds |
| United States Puerto Rico |
ABC, ESPN | SiriusXM | ESPN+ |
| Vietnam | K+ |