Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport racing. Recently, I became a Formula 1 fan. More specifically, a Ferrari fan. The past domination of Red Bull Racing came to an end during the Singapore Grand Prix when Carlos Sainz Jr won the Singapore Grand Prix, with Red Bull’s top driver, Max Verstappen, coming in fifth. This, to non-Red Bull fans, was amazing.
F1 is complicated and there are a few terms which are necessary to understand. First, a grand prix. This is the term which defines a race. A grand prix where you can get points and finish on the podium. Qualifying is setting up the starting grid for the race. The starting grid is how the drivers are organized to start the race. Q1 and Q2 are specifically to get rid of the bottom five in each session. Q1 gets rid of positions 16-20, Q2 gets rid of positions 11-16. Q3 is a shootout, where whoever sets the fastest lap will be first on the grid, otherwise known as being on pole position. The sprint race is a normal grand prix but with a lot fewer laps. Pit stops are when drivers have to come in to change tires, or sometimes make changes to the car.
F1 is extremely dangerous, with drivers zooming around the track at extremely fast speeds. When it starts to rain or weather conditions become hazardous, a safety car comes out. Once a safety car comes out, it means that they need to slow down and there isn’t any overtaking which is allowed.
I know that I dropped a lot of names, so I’ll back up. Max Verstappen is a Dutch Red Bull driver who has won the last 2 world championships. He’s won nearly all the races this season. The rest have been won by Sergio Pérez, Verstappen’s teammate who comes from Mexico and Carlos Sainz Jr, a Spanish Ferrari driver.
Every single race car and driver this year has been measured up to Verstappen and the Red Bull car, and nearly all the drivers and cars have failed. This shows how the Formula 1 sport is so different from other sports, some teams can dominate for years, but every single race is different, from the weather, to the updates on the car, to the track. The overtakes are breathtaking and you have to wonder how they don’t crash.
There are some countries in which Formula 1 is a huge deal. One is the United Kingdom. There are currently three drivers on the grid from the United Kingdom: George Russell who drives for Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton,7 world championship winner, who also drives for Mercedes. The third and final driver is Lando Norris, who is my personal favorite British Formula 1 driver, who drives for McLaren.
Update (October 16). The Qatar Grand Prix was on October 8, Verstappen won again. Leclerc finished 5th and Sainz didn’t start because of a fuel issue. I’m officially frustrated with Ferrari because they were doing decently. Ferrari's strategists are notoriously terrible and the object of deep annoyance. This weekend’s sprint race was won by Oscar Piastri, who drives for McLaren. Also, Verstappen sealed the world championship in Qatar by being distanced enough from the current second place finisher, Sergio Pérez.
I don’t like sprint races, because they mess up how qualifying for the Grand Prix is scheduled and if you crash out during the sprint race, then the mechanics have to struggle to repair the car. Additionally, there are a lot less pit stops, therefore making it less exciting.
Update (October 23). The United States Grand Prix hosted in Austin was on the 22nd. Leclerc was starting on pole! Verstappen was starting 6th! The morning after the race started with me screaming at my computer screen after seeing that one of Ferrari’s cars was disqualified. That doesn’t mean that the Grand Prix was amazing; far from it. Ferrari messed up their strategy again and Verstappen won again. Sainz finished fourth, which was pretty good, and Leclerc finished sixth. Then, Leclerc and Hamilton got disqualified because of floor damage. The floor is the bottom of the car, which typically hits the track. The way that they can figure this out is that there is a plank of wood at the bottom of the car. The McLaren drivers actually had some speed this weekend, which shouldn’t be that surprising because the team has been on their way up. The race this weekend wasn’t horrible, but I’m hoping for a better end to this season!
Final Update (October 30). The Mexico Grand Prix was disappointing to say the least. Leclerc started on pole, Sainz starting second. This is the home race of Sergio Pérez, the Red Bull driver who is fighting to keep his seat. He crashed in the first corner. Ferrari finished third and fourth, with Verstappen winning and Lewis Hamilton coming second. The story of the weekend, Lando Norris coming from 17th to 5th.
In Formula 1, you really have to stick to your team and stay with them throughout all the highs and lows, which is really the same in every single sport. Formula 1 always pushes the limit with speed and the incredible engineering that powers the sport.
Works Cited:
Benson, Andrew. “Hamilton Disqualified as Verstappen Wins US GP.” BBC Sport, 23 Oct. 2023, www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/67189998. Accessed 2 Nov. 2023.
“Standings.” Formula 1® - the Official F1® Website, www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2023/races/1221/qatar/race-result.html. Accessed 2 Nov. 2023.
“Standings.” Formula 1® - the Official F1® Website, www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2023/races/1222/united-states/race-result.html. Accessed 2 Nov. 2023.
“Standings.” Formula 1® - the Official F1® Website, www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2023/races/1223/mexico/race-result.html. Accessed 2 Nov. 2023.
“Standings.” Formula 1® - the Official F1® Website, www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2023/races/1222/united-states/qualifying.html. Accessed 2 Nov. 2023.