Formula One Grand Prix
The fastest sport on 4 wheels, the F1 Grand Prix is watched by millions of spectators around the world and has produced champions such as Nigel Mansell, the late Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.
Formula One is the highest class of single seat motorsport that’s sanctioned by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) The F1 Grand Prix held its inaugural season in 1950 and has grown from strength to strength, despite some turbulent times, ever since.
The word ‘Formula’ used in the race name refers to a designated set of rules that are set out by the FIA and to which all participants and cars must conform at all times. The Grand Prix refers to the series of races held over the season, either on public roads such as in Monaco, or on purpose built tracks such as Silverstone and Hockenheimring.
F1 Grand Prix Points System
The F1 Grand Prix has two separate world championship prizes, one for the drivers and one for the constructors. Competition between all parties is rife as winning the championship is one of the highest accolades in motorsport.
Drivers are rewarded with points for winning or finishing, starting with 25 points for 1st place and going down to 1 point for 10th place. Points awarded to the Constructors have changed somewhat over the years and the current system sees the top 10 cars past the chequered flag receiving the same number points as the drivers. If a team has more than one car on the track and they place, they will be awarded with both sets of points.Its these points that form the basis of how punters can place wagers at online F1 betting sites.
At the end of the season all the drivers and constructors points are added up, defining a winner in each category. The winners of each race are also awarded a trophy and the podium is a prominent feature of every F1 Grand Prix.
F1 Motorsport Rules and Regulations
The FIA is renowned for being incredibly strict with both drivers and constructors and will issue fines or penalties to those who fall foul of their exacting rules and regulations. These rules have been put in place to protect the participants, as this type of motorsport is incredibly risky, with accidents happening in a split second. Fortunately, fatalities are few and far between, but they do occur and are devastating.
F1 Grand Prix races generally take place in all weather conditions, and only if these become too dire, such as the case of the 2009 Malaysian race, which was called off midway due to torrential rain, is a race halted.
Over the years the formula of this motorsport has evolved, especially as technology has improved and giant leaps have been made forward in terms of tyres, suspension, computerisation and aerodynamics. If you look at the F1 cars from 20 or 30 years ago they are remarkably different to the carbon fibre machines of the present, so the FIA rules have had to change to accommodate this.
Thrilling Motorsport Action
The F1 Grand Prix always offers an adrenalin-filled experience and it’s garnered a huge following across the globe, with 425 million fans watching the races in one way or another in 2014 alone. Europe may be the sports home base, but races are held across the continents and over the years have shifted and changed in a number of ways.
A multi-billion dollar industry that has attracted brands such as Red Bull, Ferrari and Shell, this exciting motorsport has perpetuated a legacy that’s hard to ignore.