The F1 points system is the core mechanism that determines the annual Drivers' and Constructors' World Championships. Drivers earn points from Grand Prix and Sprint races; all points accumulate throughout the season, and the highest scorers claim the world titles.

• In the Grand Prix, points are awarded to the top 10 classified finishers. The winner gets 25 points, decreasing progressively to 1 point for 10th place.
• In the Sprint race, points are awarded to the top 8 classified finishers, from 8 points for the winner down to 1 point for 8th place.

F1 tyres are one of the most critical components in motorsport, directly determining a car’s speed, grip, lap time, and race strategy. They are divided into Dry and Wet tyres, supplied by the official manufacturer, with different compounds for various tracks, temperatures, and weather conditions.

Dry-weather F1 tyres are slick (no tread) to maximize contact area and grip. They operate within a very wide temperature range and must reach optimal temperature quickly to perform well.

Tyre management is one of the most important tactics in F1. Drivers must balance speed and tyre wear, while teams design pit stop strategies based on tyre degradation. Lap time differences between compounds can reach 1-3 seconds.

The official supplier develops new tyre compounds each year to match car power, aerodynamics, and track characteristics. Tyre construction, rubber compound, and hardness are continuously improved as part of F1’s technological evolution.

Formula 1 cars represent the highest level of circuit motorsport, embodying cutting-edge automotive technology and extreme competitive appeal. Under strict regulatory constraints, they integrate sophisticated aerodynamic design, ultra-lightweight construction and high-performance power units, with every detail engineered for ultimate speed, blending advanced technology with racing spirit perfectly.

Here are the key specifications of the Ferrari SF26 for the 2026 season:

• Cars: Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, Aston Martin Vantage F1.
• Driver: Bernd Mayländer, who has served as the official FIA Formula 1 Safety Car driver since 2000. His racing background includes DTM and FIA GT, and he won the Nürburgring 24 Hours overall in 2000.

The most commonly used terms and abbreviations in Formula 1. Mastering these will help you better understand race commentary and regulations.

Formula 1 (F1) is the highest-class single-seater formula racing event certified by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), known as the 'pinnacle of motorsport'. Since the first World Championship was held at Silverstone Circuit in the United Kingdom in 1950, F1 has gone through nearly 80 years of development. It is not only the ultimate collision of speed and technology, but also a concentrated embodiment of technological innovation, teamwork and the human spirit of challenging limits. From front-engined cars to hybrid power, from simple cockpits to all-round safety protection, this chapter will take you through the century-old journey of F1 .

In this phase, Formula 1 cars were predominantly front-engined, built on tubular steel chassis with aluminium bodywork. Their appearance was simple and cumbersome, and aerodynamic design was almost non-existent. Engines initially carried over supercharged pre-war units with a displacement limit of 1.5 litres. After the regulation changes in 1954, the formula switched to 2.5-litre naturally aspirated engines, producing around 250 horsepower and a top speed of approximately 240 km/h. The cars had no seatbelts, no survival cell or protective equipment, and the driver was directly exposed to danger in an extremely rudimentary driving environment.

This was the era of the legendary pioneers, most notably Juan Manuel Fangio. The Argentine driver is revered as one of the greatest in F1 history, winning five drivers' world championships in 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957. His five-title record stood for half a century until Michael Schumacher broke it in the 21st century. Fangio drove for Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari and Maserati, dominating F1's formative years with his precision driving and calm temperament.

• 1946: The FIA officially defined "International Formula One", establishing the technical regulations that laid the foundation for F1. The series was initially referred to as "Formula A" or "Formula I" before being unified as "Formula 1".
• 13 May 1950: The first FIA Formula One World Championship race was held at the Silverstone circuit in Britain (a converted wartime airfield). Argentine driver Juan Manuel Fangio won the first Grand Prix, and Italian Giuseppe Farina took the inaugural drivers' title, marking F1's arrival as a truly global series.
• 1954: Mercedes-Benz returned to F1, signing Fangio, who went on to win the title driving the Mercedes-Benz W196, beginning a short but glorious period for the team.
• 1955: The 24 Hours of Le Mans witnessed the sport's worst disaster when Mercedes driver Pierre Levegh's car crashed, somersaulted and burst into flames, killing Levegh and 83 spectators and injuring over 120 people. In the aftermath, Mercedes-Benz withdrew from all motorsport, not returning to F1 until 2010.
• 1950–1957: Italian teams reigned supreme: Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Ferrari swept every drivers' championship, making them the undisputed protagonists of this period.

This phase saw F1's first major technological overhaul, centred on the adoption of rear/mid-mounted engines, which broke the monopoly of the front-engined layout. In 1958, the British Cooper team introduced a rear-engined car; the rearward weight bias dramatically improved cornering stability and handling, quickly leading the way. By the early 1960s, every F1 team had adopted the rear-engine configuration. At the same time, aerodynamics began to be applied to racing-car design. In 1968, Team Lotus fitted front and rear wings to its car for the first time, generating downforce to increase grip and significantly raise cornering speeds – a design concept that became a defining feature of F1 cars from that point on.

On the engine front, the regulations switched to 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engines in 1962, lifting power to around 300 bhp. From 1968 onwards, the Cosworth DFV engine became dominant; its simple construction and high reliability made it the go-to power unit for many teams, and it ruled the F1 grid for almost a decade. Bodywork materials gradually moved towards lightweight construction, with tubular steel chassis combined with aluminium skins, reducing weight further. Top speeds broke the 300 km/h barrier.

• 1958: Cooper launched its rear-engined car, sparking a technical revolution that completely altered F1 car layout. The rear/mid-engine configuration would go on to become the standard.
• 1968: Team Lotus introduced aerodynamic appendages and commercial sponsorship for the first time, ushering in an era where technology and business developed side by side. The same year, the death of Jim Clark heightened the industry's awareness of safety concerns.
• 1973: Jackie Stewart retired and devoted himself fully to F1 safety reform, pushing for upgraded circuit safety facilities and improved driver protective equipment, launching F1's first major safety revolution.
• 1974: Bernie Ecclestone worked to establish the Formula One Constructors Association (FOCA) and the Formula One Promotions and Administration association. He subsequently gained control of F1's commercial rights, defining the revenue split between teams, the FIA and the management body, laying the foundation for F1's commercial operations.
• 1975: Niki Lauda joined Ferrari, helping the team reclaim its first constructors' championship since 1964 and ushering in another glorious chapter for the Scuderia. In 1976, Lauda suffered a horrific crash at the Nürburgring that burned his face, yet he returned to racing just six weeks later, eventually losing the title to James Hunt by the narrowest of margins – one of the most resilient and legendary stories in F1 history.

The defining technical change of this era was the introduction and spread of turbocharged engines. In 1977, Renault became the first team to run a turbo engine in F1. The 1.5-litre turbocharged units rapidly exceeded 500 bhp, and by the end of the period they were producing over 1,000 bhp, pushing top speeds to 350 km/h, making this the "fastest era" in F1 history. Aerodynamic technology continued to advance dramatically. Team Lotus introduced the "ground effect" car (generating negative pressure under the body to enhance downforce), which massively increased cornering speeds but also introduced severe safety risks.

In 1981, McLaren introduced F1's first carbon-fibre monocoque chassis (the MP4/1). This material, being both light and immensely strong, could effectively protect the driver. It was rapidly adopted by all teams and became the standard chassis construction for F1 cars. In addition, electronic technology began to appear on the cars, with traction control, automatic gear-shifting and other electronic driver aids gradually appearing, further improving controllability.

• 1977: Renault introduced the turbocharged engine, bringing F1 into the turbo era. Car speeds saw an explosive increase, kicking off a decade of "speed frenzy".
• 1981: The McLaren MP4/1 appeared, and the carbon-fibre monocoque became the standard for F1 cars, fundamentally changing safety performance and design philosophy.
• 1983: Honda returned to F1 as an engine supplier. Over the following decade, Honda engines dominated, powering Williams and McLaren to multiple world championships. In 1987 the Honda RA167E engine produced 1,050 bhp; Honda-powered cars locked out the top four at that year's British Grand Prix.
• 1988: McLaren, with the might of Honda power, won 15 of the 16 Grands Prix that season, with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost at the wheel – a domination record in F1 history.
• 1989: The FIA banned turbocharged engines, switching the formula to 3.5-litre naturally aspirated engines, ending the turbo era. The same year, Senna and Prost collided at the Japanese Grand Prix, handing Prost the title and bringing their rivalry to its peak.

In this period, technical development centred on safety revolution and restrictions on electronic aids. After the death of Ayrton Senna in 1994, the FIA imposed strict limits on technology, banning electronic driver aids such as traction control and automatic gear-shifting, returning the emphasis to "pure driving". At the same time, cars were lengthened and widened, and survival cells were enhanced to improve the driver's chance of survival. In 1995, engine regulations moved to 3.0-litre naturally aspirated units, predominantly V10s, producing about 800 bhp. Top speeds were capped at around 330 km/h to avoid the safety risks of excessive speed.

Aerodynamic technology continued to be refined but was strictly controlled: ground-effect designs and movable aerodynamic devices were banned, with the focus shifting to stability and safety. In 2003, the HANS device (Head and Neck Support) became mandatory, effectively reducing the risk of neck injuries in a crash and further lifting the level of driver protection.

• 1994: "The Rain Master" Ayrton Senna, having moved to Williams, died in a crash during the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola. The shockwave that went around the world pushed the FIA into a massive safety reform programme, permanently changing F1's safety philosophy.
• 1996–2004: Michael Schumacher joined Ferrari and led the team into the "Red Dynasty", winning five consecutive drivers' titles and six constructors' championships, setting a dominance record and creating one of F1's "golden ages".
• 2004: The Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai joined the F1 calendar for the first time, opening up the Chinese market and starting F1's push into Asia. Red Bull purchased Jaguar Racing, laying the groundwork for the subsequent Red Bull dynasty.
• 2008: The Singapore Grand Prix became F1's first night race, adding a new dimension to the sport. The same year, the global financial crisis triggered the withdrawal of manufacturer teams such as Ford, Honda, BMW and Toyota. Lewis Hamilton won his first drivers' championship, becoming the youngest title winner at that time.

The core technological revolution of this phase has been the introduction of hybrid power units, steering F1 into an era of "eco-friendliness and intelligence". In 2014, the FIA formally introduced the 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged hybrid power unit to replace the 2.4-litre V8 naturally aspirated engines. The system comprises a turbocharged engine, the Energy Recovery System (ERS) and a heat recovery system, delivering substantial power (around 950 bhp) while reducing fuel consumption and emissions, in line with the global trend towards sustainability.

Aerodynamic development has continued to be optimised. In 2022, the FIA introduced completely new aerodynamic regulations that re-introduced ground effect, optimised the rear-end airflow design, and reduced the disruptive "dirty air" behind the cars. This closed up the competitive gaps and improved the racing spectacle. Safety technology has been further upgraded: the Halo cockpit protection device was made mandatory in 2018, demonstrably protecting the driver's head and preventing severe casualties on multiple occasions. The Virtual Safety Car, full-course yellow and other safety mechanisms have also been refined.

• 2009: Brawn GP (formerly the Honda team) won both the constructors' and drivers' world championships in its very first season. At the end of the year, Mercedes-Benz announced the takeover of Brawn GP, formally returning to Formula 1.
• 2010–2013: Red Bull Racing, with Adrian Newey-designed RB6, RB7 and subsequent cars, achieved four consecutive championship doubles, launching the "Red Bull Dynasty". Sebastian Vettel became the youngest four-time world champion.
• 2014: F1 entered the hybrid era. The Mercedes team, leveraging its hybrid-technology advantage, began its own dynasty, winning multiple consecutive drivers' and constructors' titles. The same year, French driver Jules Bianchi suffered a crash at the Japanese Grand Prix and later tragically succumbed to his injuries, prompting the FIA to further refine safety rules and introduce the Virtual Safety Car.
• 2018: The Halo system was formally introduced and proved its worth in several serious collisions, protecting drivers from potentially fatal injuries.
• 2021–2024: Max Verstappen led Red Bull into a new dynasty, securing four consecutive drivers' titles and breaking numerous records along the way. In 2022 he took 15 Grand Prix wins in a single season, breaking the record for the most victories in a season, and in 2023 he achieved a record-breaking ten consecutive wins – the longest winning streak by a driver in F1 history.