F1: 101 A Guide to Formula 1

david krulewich
2 min readJan 18, 2022

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Introduction

Formula One is one of the most popular and successful sports on Earth. It is, without a doubt, the pinnacle of motorsports around the globe. Formed in 1950, it has seen its fair share of ups and downs with some real head-turning moments in between. Currently, on its third generation and with new teams entering as well as old ones leaving, it’s sure to be an exciting season.

History of Formula One

Formula One, or F1 abbreviated, was started in 1950 with a race held in Silverstone, England. British teams and drivers dominated for the first two seasons until Italy’s Alberto Ascari won his first championship driving for Ferrari. Four more years of one-sided competition go by before Juan Manuel Fangio wins his first championship driving for Alfa Romeo. The rest, as they say, is history, and the future looks bright as well.

What does formula 1 Entail?

Formula 1 generally involves teams with two drivers and their cars, a large, powerful engine of roughly 3 liters per cylinder capacity, carbon fiber composites in the chassis and wings, a gearbox with seven forward gears, one reverse gear, and around 750 brake horsepower. F1 cars also have “wings” at the front, rear, and sides that allow them to cut through the air better. The rules have changed slightly over the years, but in general, nothing drastic changes.

How are teams structured?

Teams have a variety of members. First is the principal, who used to be the titleholder. The other people in charge are the team manager and assistant manager. There is a chief engineer and chief designer, and the technical director and sponsor relations officer are other critical positions held by experienced members of the team.

What do teams get?

Teams get a percentage of the money from television revenue, advertising, and any other revenue that the F1 governing body makes. They also make money from race hosting fees which vary depending on where the race is and what facilities they have to offer. In addition to that, they also receive bonuses for winning various races and championships and payments based on their finishing position in the points table at the end of the season.

Conclusion

F1 is a relatively young sport with many changes being made to it. It has seen teams come and go, but it has generally maintained its competitive edge. Teams usually have three drivers for the season and, in rare cases, only two drivers. The season typically begins in March and finishes in November.

Originally published at https://davidkrulewich.net on January 18, 2022.

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david krulewich

David Krulewich is a seasoned executive and entrepreneur who lives in Fairfield, CT. Visit his website, davidkrulewich.net, to learn more about his interests.