Formula 1 Rules 101: A Beginner's Guide

I. Introduction

Formula 1 is one of the world's most exhilarating and technically advanced motorsports. From the iconic cars to the daring drivers, to the glitz and glamour of the events, it is a sport that has captured the imagination of millions. However, behind the excitement lies a complex set of rules and regulations governing every aspect of the sport. Understanding these rules is key to understanding the sport itself, and fully appreciating the skill and precision that goes into every race.

In this article, we will take a deep dive into the rules of Formula 1 and explore the different aspects of the sport that make it so exciting. We'll examine everything from the cars to the regulations shaping how the races are run. Whether you're a die-hard fan or simply curious about the world of Formula 1, this article is your ultimate guide to understanding the sport and its rules.

II. Formula 1 Basics

For those who are new to Formula 1, the rules and regulations can be confusing and overwhelming. The concept of Formula 1 is to race at high speeds around a track, with the aim of completing the specified number of laps in the shortest possible time. The tracks used in Formula 1 racing are typically complex and challenging, with many turns, chicanes, and straights and the teams need to create different race strategies and adapt to the weather conditions, technical issues, or penalties that they might receive.

The distance of a Formula 1 race depends on the specific race track and is measured in the number of laps that the drivers must complete. The length of each lap varies depending on the track, but the minimum length is 3.5 kilometers (2.17 miles), as mandated by the FIA, the governing body of Formula 1 racing. Most races on the calendar have a distance of around 300 kilometers (186 miles), although this can vary depending on the track layout and the number of laps required to complete the distance. Some races, such as the Monaco Grand Prix, have a shorter distance due to the track layout, while others, such as the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, have a longer distance due to the high-speed nature of the track. In addition to the race distance, Formula 1 also has a time limit of two hours for each race. If the race has not been completed after this time, the checkered flag is shown at the end of the lap, and the race is deemed finished, with the results determined by the positions of the cars at the end of the previous lap.

Pilots and teams race for points, which add up through the calendar year. The results of all of the Grand Prix races in a season are taken together to determine two annual Championship awards:

• The Driver Championship Award (Won by the driver with the most points in the season)
• The Constructors Championship Award (Won by the team with the most points in the season)

The Concorde Agreement

The Concorde Agreement is a contract that outlines the terms and conditions of participation in the Formula 1 World Championship. It is negotiated between FIA, the Formula One Group (FOG), and the teams competing in the championship. The agreement covers a range of topics, including the distribution of prize money, the technical and sporting regulations of the championship, and the governance and commercial aspects of Formula 1. The first Concorde Agreement was signed in 1981, and subsequent versions were signed in 1987, 1992, 1997, 2009, and 2013. The most recent agreement, which was signed in 2020, runs until the end of the 2025 season. The Concorde Agreement is seen as a key document in the sport, as it sets out the terms under which the teams compete and helps to ensure the stability and sustainability of Formula 1.

The current version of the Concorde Agreement states that the maximum number of teams that can be present in the Formula 1 Championship is 12, while the maximum number of races that can be held in a season is 24. Starting with 2021, the Concorde Agreement also announced a 175 million dollars budget cap that applies to the development of the car. The cap was reduced to 140 million dollars for 2022 and to 135 million dollars for the seasons 2023 to 2025. At the same time, the agreement seeks to protect the current 10 teams present in the Championship, by requiring any new participant to pay 200 million dollars upfront before joining, money equally shared between the 10 existing teams.

III. Rules for Teams and Drivers

In Formula 1, each team is allowed to enter two cars in a race, with a maximum of 12 teams allowed on the grid, accordingly to the last Concorde Agreement. The cars must comply with strict regulations regarding their design, safety features, and engine specifications, and teams are only allowed to make a limited number of changes to their cars throughout the season. Currently, there are ten Formula 1 teams on the grid:

• Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake
• Scuderia AlphaTauri
• BWT Alpine F1 Team
• Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team
• Scuderia Ferrari
• MoneyGram Haas F1 Team
• McLaren F1 Team
• Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
• Oracle Red Bull Racing
• Williams Racing

Drivers are required to wear a full-face helmet that meets certain safety standards, as well as a HANS (Head and Neck Support) device that helps to prevent whiplash injuries in the event of a crash. Each car must also be fitted with a number of safety features, including roll bars, fire extinguishers, and impact-absorbing materials.

Teams are also required to comply with strict regulations regarding the number and type of tires they use during a race. Each driver is allowed a set number of tires for each race, with different compounds available depending on the conditions of the track and the weather.

Penalties

The Formula 1 stewards have a range of punishments to use throughout a race weekend.

• Reprimand or Warning: FIA stewards issue a reprimand as a stern warning before an official warning is issued against a driver. A driver is allowed three reprimands per season, where after an official warning is issued, resulting in a ten-place grid penalty. Reprimands may also be issued if a driver fails to adhere to any pre-race procedures laid out by the FIA; these are known as non-driving reprimands.
• Time Penalties: Time Penalties can be incurred through the race for causing different types of incidents or breaking rules. The common offenses include: Starting prematurely, speeding in the pit lane, causing an accident, unfairly blocking another driver, speeding behind the safety car, or Ignoring safety flags of any color. Here are the time penalties applied:
• Five-second or ten-second time penalty - these penalties can be served when the driver goes to the pits. The car must be stationary for the penalty time before any changes are done to the car.
• Drive-through penalty - you have to drive through the pit lane during one race lap, following the speed restrictions imposed on the pit lane (80 kms/h). This penalty translates to 20 seconds added to the total race time, if the driver does not pit anymore.
• Ten-second stop-and-go penalty - the same penalty as the drive-through penalty, but the driver must stop for 10 seconds at the team pits before continuing the race. This penalty translates to 30 seconds added to the total race time, if the driver does not pit anymore.
• Grid Place Penalties: Grid Place Penalties are awarded for pre-session technical infringements. They involve reducing the driver’s starting position on the starting grid of a session by a set number of places above their qualifying position. The penalty is given for exceeding power unit replacements, meaning unscheduled replacement of any of the six elements can result in both singular and cumulative grid place penalties. The six elements are the turbocharger, the internal combustion engine, the energy store, the motor-generator unit (kinetic), the motor-generator unit (heat), and controlled electronics.
• Disqualification: Disqualification from a race as a penalty is reserved for major offenses such as continued un-sportsman-like behavior despite warnings, not complying with previous penalties received during a session, and deliberately causing collisions. A disqualification is signaled via the use of a black flag with the driver’s number, meaning they will have to pit at their soonest convenience and exit the race. This will be recorded as a disqualification. No points or placement will be awarded to the driver, even if they have already finished a session when a disqualification penalty is awarded against them. While extremely rare, black flags have been awarded to numerous drivers through the years for various reasons.
• Suspension: Over and above disqualification via a black flag, the severity of the offenses, and the accumulation of similar instances may require stewards to enforce a suspension. The suspension means that a driver will be banned from multiple races following the issuing of the penalty. Alternatively, the stewards will issue a ban if twelve penalty points accumulate on a driver’s FIA Super License.

Drivers can accrue penalty points for indiscretions over a given race weekend which are kept on their Super Licence for a 12-month period. If a driver reaches 12 penalty points within the 12-month period, they will receive an automatic one-race ban.

Teams or drivers can be penalized also by finesfor breaking different rules if this does not incur gaining an advantage. Such an example is fitting in the wrong tires on the car or an unsafe release of the car in the pits onto incoming traffic. A team can be also penalized for breaching the Cost Cap. Such a punishment occurred at the end of the 2022 season, with Oracle Red Bull Racing team receiving a 7 million dollars fine for issues with the Cost Cap Submission for season 2021.

IV. Race Rules

Formula 1 weekend

The Formula 1 weekend consists of 4 days. Usually, on Thursdays, you have the media day with interviews done with the drivers and team principles. During Friday, for a weekend that does not have a Sprint Race, you have two one-hour Free Practice sessions (FP1 and FP2) in which the teams test their car set-ups to prepare for Qualifying and Race. On Saturdaymornings there is another Free Practice session (FP3), while in the afternoon (or evening, depending on the race) you have the Qualifying session.

In Formula 1, qualifying is a process that determines the starting order for the race. The drivers have a limited amount of time to complete as many laps as possible, with the fastest lap time determining their starting position. The current format consists of three rounds:

• Q1: In the first round (Q1), all drivers have 18 minutes to set a fast lap time. The five slowest drivers are eliminated and will start the race from the back of the grid.
• Q2: In the second round (Q2), the remaining 15 drivers have 15 minutes to set a fast lap time. The five slowest drivers are again eliminated and will start the race from the 11th to 15th positions on the grid.
• Q3: In the third and final round (Q3), the remaining 10 drivers have 12 minutes to set a fast lap time. The driver who sets the fastest time will start the race from pole position.

Depending on the Qualifying results, the drivers will light up for the Race on Sundays.

Sprint Races were introduced during the 2021 seasons and during 2021 and 2022 we experienced 3 Sprint Races at predetermined tracks throughout the season. If there is a Sprint Race Weekend, FP2 becomes the Qualifying session, on Friday evening and the Qualifying session on Saturdays becomes a Sprint Race, which is a normal Formula 1 race, consisting only of 1/3 of the total race distance. The final positions of the Sprint Race will determine the starting positions for the Race on Sundays.

Flags in Formula 1

The flag system in Formula 1 is a crucial way for officials to communicate with drivers during a race. Flags are used to indicate to drivers when they need to slow down, when there is danger on the track, and when the race is about to end. The most well-known flag is the checkered flag, which is waved at the end of the race to indicate the winner, but Formula 1 uses many other flags for different situations:

• Yellow Flag: A single yellow flag means drivers should reduce their speed, avoid overtaking, and ready themselves to change direction because of a hazard on or near the track. Two yellow flags are an order to reduce speed significantly, avoid overtaking and prepare to change direction or stop because of a hazard blocking the track and marshals either on the surface or nearby.
• Red flag: A red flag indicates that the race has been stopped due to a significant danger on the track.
• Green flag: A green flag suggests that the previously reported hazard does not exist anymore and they can resume racing under normal conditions.
• Blue flag: The drivers who are about to be lapped are shown this flag to tell them to let the car behind them pass. A stationary blue flag means another car is coming down the track when a driver leaves the pit lane. Drivers can be penalized for ignoring blue flags repeatedly.
• Black and white flag: Split between the two colors by a diagonal line, this flag is stationary and includes the number of a driver who is being warned over unsportsmanlike behavior.
• Black and orange flag: A black flag with an orange circle, bearing the number of the driver it is aimed at, is shown when a car has a mechanical problem that is deemed dangerous and must therefore return to the pits as soon as possible.
• Black flag: The flag contenders least want to see: accompanied by the number of its target, this means disqualification for the driver in question. Such incidents are rare but still, happen.
• White flag: The white flag suggests that a slow-moving vehicle — such as a medical car — is ahead. It is also used to indicate a practice session has ended.

V. Championship Rules

The point system used in Formula 1 is relatively simple. The winner of each race is awarded 25 points, with the second-place finisher receiving 18 points and the third-place finisher receiving 15 points. From there, the point values decrease incrementally for each subsequent finisher, with the tenth-place finisher receiving 1 point. Any driver who finishes outside of the top ten does not receive any points.

In addition to the points awarded for finishing positions, there are also points awarded for setting the fastest lap of the race. If a driver finishes in the top ten and sets the fastest lap, they receive an additional point. For the Sprint Races, additional points are being offered to the top 8 drivers:

For 2022, a new points system was introduced for races halted during the Grand Prix due to an incident, bad weather, or a situation where a race can't go ahead. This was a reaction to the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, where the race was canceled after two laps because of torrential rain and half-points were awarded.

• No points will be awarded unless a minimum of two laps have been completed under green flag conditions.
• Points will be awarded on a 6–4–3–2–1 basis to the top five if less than 25 percent of the race is completed.
• Points will be awarded on a 13–10–8–6–5–4–3–2–1 basis to the top nine if between 25 percent and 50 percent of the race is completed.
• Points will be awarded on a 19–14–12–9–8–6–5–3–2–1 basis to the top 10 if 50 percent to 75 percent of the race is completed.

At the end of the season, the driver with the most points is crowned the Drivers World Champion, while the team with the most points over the course of the season is awarded the Constructors World Championship. In the event of a tie, the driver or team with the most race wins is declared the winner. In addition to these two championships, there are also individual awards for pole position (awarded to the driver who qualifies in first place for each race) and fastest lap (awarded to the driver who sets the fastest lap time during each race).

VI. Technical Rules

In Formula 1, technical regulations are in place to ensure that all teams are operating under the same standards and that no team has an unfair advantage over others. These regulations govern various aspects of car design, including dimensions, weight, and powertrain restrictions.

The current technical regulations specify that a Formula 1 car must be no more than 200cm wide and 95cm tall. The minimum weight of the car must be 798kg, including the driver. Currently, Formula 1 engines are hybrid engines, which means they combine a traditional internal combustion engine with an electric motor. The engine has a displacement of 1.6 liters and produces around 1000 horsepower, with the electric motor providing an additional 160 horsepower. The engines are also limited to a maximum of 15,000 rpm. Other technical regulations govern the use of aerodynamic devices, including wings and diffusers, and the materials used to construct the car. These regulations ensure that all teams are using similar equipment and that the competition is fair and evenly matched.

Fuel and tire regulations are critical in ensuring fair play. The FIA sets regulations regarding the maximum amount of fuel that can be used during a race. Since the start of the hybrid era, cars have been limited to using 100kg of fuel per race, which must be used in a race to its completion. Formula 1 tires are specially designed to withstand the immense forces and high speeds involved in the sport. There are two types of tires used in Formula 1 - slicks and rain tires. Slicks are used in dry weather conditions and are smooth tires without any treads or grooves. They are made from a specially formulated rubber compound that provides high levels of grip and traction. Slicks come in different compounds depending on the track conditions, with softer compounds providing more grip but wearing out faster. Rain tires, on the other hand, have deep treads and grooves to displace water on the track. They are made from a softer rubber compound than slicks to provide better grip in wet conditions. Drivers may switch to rain tires during a race if the track becomes wet due to rain. In Formula 1, teams are allowed to use different tire compounds during a race, with drivers required to use at least two different compounds during a race if the conditions are dry. This adds a strategic element to the sport, as teams must decide when to pit for new tires and which compounds to use based on the track conditions and their driver's performance.

VII. Conclusion

From edge-of-your-seat qualifying sessions to lightning-quick pit stops, and breathtaking overtaking moves to race-winning strategies, Formula 1 is the most exciting competition on the planet.

Beginners can watch Formula 1 to gain an appreciation for the technical and engineering aspects of racing, as well as the skill and strategy involved in driving. Formula 1 racing is not just about speed, but also about endurance, precision, and teamwork. Watching Formula 1 can provide insight into how racing teams work together to create a winning car and develop strategies to outmaneuver the competition.

Additionally, Formula 1 races are held in various locations around the world, providing a glimpse into different cultures and landscapes. It can be exciting to see how drivers navigate different tracks and weather conditions.

For those who enjoy sports, Formula 1 offers a unique and thrilling experience that is different from traditional team sports. The high-speed action and intense competition can be captivating, even for those who are not typically interested in racing.