DuelsLeaderboardGarageBlogCarsGlossaryBrowse

Formula 1

Car culture term

Formula 1
Photo: Mike Peel / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

What is Formula 1?

The pinnacle of single-seater motorsport. Annual world championship for purpose-built open-wheel racing cars. Founded 1950.

Formula 1 (F1, also called Formula One) is the highest class of single-seater motor racing. The world championship has been held annually since 1950 (the longest-running motorsport world championship), with manufacturers (constructors) and individual drivers competing for separate championships. Modern F1 has 20 drivers from 10 teams competing in 22-24 races globally each season.

F1 cars are purpose-built racing machines using carbon fiber monocoques, hybrid V6 turbo engines making over 1,000 horsepower combined output (engine plus electric motors), advanced aerodynamics generating 1,000+ kg of downforce at speed, and specific tire compounds from Pirelli (the exclusive F1 tire supplier). Modern F1 cars accelerate 0-100 mph in under 4 seconds and corner at sustained 5+ G of lateral force.

F1 drivers are widely considered the best drivers in motorsport. Modern champions include Lewis Hamilton (7 championships), Max Verstappen (4+ championships), Sebastian Vettel (4 championships), Fernando Alonso (2 championships), Kimi Räikkönen (1 championship), and historic legends like Michael Schumacher (7 championships), Ayrton Senna (3 championships), and Juan Manuel Fangio (5 championships). The constructor championship has been dominated by Mercedes (recent decade) and Red Bull Racing (recent years).

Related terms

Le MansNASCAREndurance racing

Frequently asked questions

How fast is a Formula 1 car?
Modern F1 cars accelerate 0-60 mph in under 2.5 seconds, 0-100 mph in around 3.5 seconds, and have top speeds around 220 mph (limited by aerodynamic drag, not power). Lap times at most circuits are 5-10 seconds faster than equivalent road cars. The cars produce 1,000+ kg of aerodynamic downforce at speed, allowing extreme cornering grip.
How much does an F1 car cost?
An F1 car is essentially priceless in the sense that they are not sold to the public. The development and operating cost for an F1 program is around $300 million per year for top teams. Individual components (engines, transmissions, monocoques) cost millions to develop and manufacture. The cars are owned by the teams and used only in racing.
Is F1 dangerous?
Less than historically. Modern F1 has extensive safety equipment (the halo head protection device since 2018, the survival cell carbon monocoque, fire suppression, advanced helmets and harnesses). F1 driver fatalities have been rare since the 1990s; the 1994 deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger were the last F1 driver fatalities until Jules Bianchi in 2014. Significant crashes still occur but driver safety has improved dramatically.
Why are F1 cars open-wheel?
Tradition. The original F1 specification (1950) called for single-seater open-wheel cars, and the format has continued. Open-wheel design allows visible suspension and exposed tire surfaces, creating a distinctive visual identity. The format also allows specific aerodynamic packages (front wing and rear wing arrangements) that wouldn't fit a closed-wheel design.
Who is the best F1 driver of all time?
Subjective. Lewis Hamilton holds the record for wins and championships (7). Michael Schumacher also has 7 championships. Ayrton Senna is widely considered one of the greatest natural drivers despite winning only 3 championships. Juan Manuel Fangio won 5 championships in 7 seasons (1951-1957) and is statistically the most consistent. Max Verstappen has been the dominant driver of recent seasons. Each driver has supporters.

Formula 1 on the blog

McLaren's next supercar is the 809-hp McL 820, and the letters now come first
McLaren's next supercar is the 809-hp McL 820, and the letters now come first

McLaren confirmed on October 30 that its next series supercar will be called the McL 820. The number is its output in metric horsepower, about 809 hp. It arrives in 2027 as the 750S bows out, and so far the only thing McLaren has shown is a kiwi statue.

The 2017 Tesla Roadster concept still looks better than the "low polygon" one Tesla plans to build
The 2017 Tesla Roadster concept still looks better than the "low polygon" one Tesla plans to build

We think the curvy 2017 Tesla Roadster concept beats the faceted wedge Tesla revealed on October 15, 2026. Critics at Hagerty and The Autopian see Lamborghini in the new shape, and the concept also had the better roof, lights, and staying power.

How many Mercedes-AMG ONEs were made? Just 275, after a nearly five-year wait
How many Mercedes-AMG ONEs were made? Just 275, after a nearly five-year wait

Mercedes-AMG limited the ONE hypercar to just 275 cars, all built in Coventry, England. Here's what the F1-based hybrid cost, why it arrived nearly five years after its 2017 concept, how fast it lapped the Nürburgring, and what one sold for at auction in 2026.

A Ferrari F50 with 106 miles could sell for more than $20 million
A Ferrari F50 with 106 miles could sell for more than $20 million

Broad Arrow Auctions will sell a 1997 Ferrari F50 with 106 miles on October 31 in Las Vegas, estimated at more than $20 million. It's the 334th of 349 built, and it would beat the $14.575 million F50 record if it hits the estimate.

Back to Glossary