Never watched Formula 1 before? No problem. Here's everything you need to know to follow the action.
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What is F1?
Formula 1 is the highest level of single-seater car racing. 22 drivers compete across 22 races each season to win the World Championship. Each race lasts around 90 minutes.
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How Do You Win?
Drivers earn points by finishing position. 1st = 25 pts, 2nd = 18 pts, down to 10th = 1 point. Most points at season end wins the championship.
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Pit Stops
Drivers must stop at least once to change tyres. A fast stop takes under 3 seconds. Timing is one of the biggest strategic decisions in a race.
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DRS
DRS opens a flap on the rear wing, adding ~15 km/h. Drivers can only use it within 1 second of the car ahead, in specific zones on the track.
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The Team
Each driver has a race engineer talking to them via radio. Strategists watch live data to decide when to pit and which tyres to use.
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2026 New Rules
Brand new engines in 2026 — 50% of power comes from electric motors. New active aerodynamics replace DRS. Two new teams: Audi and Cadillac.
S
Soft
Fastest but wears quickly. Short stints and qualifying.
M
Medium
All-rounder. Balances speed and durability.
H
Hard
Slowest but lasts longest. Long stints, fewer stops.
I
Inter
Light rain or damp track. Trickiest call to get right.
W
Wet
Heavy rain only. Deep grooves channel water away.
Undercut
Pitting before the car ahead to get fresh tyres, then going faster and emerging in front when they stop.
Overcut
Staying out longer while the car ahead pits, building a gap so you emerge ahead after your own stop.
VSC
Virtual Safety Car — all drivers slow to a set pace for a minor incident, no physical car needed.
Box, Box
Radio code telling the driver to pit. From the German word "Box" meaning pit box.
Graining
Rubber tears off the tyre and sticks to it, reducing grip. Usually temporary — goes away after a few laps.
Parc Fermé
After qualifying, no major car changes. What you qualify with, you race with.
Snap Oversteer
The rear of the car suddenly slides out. Called "loose" on team radio. Can cause spins.
GOAT Debate
Hamilton (7 titles) vs Verstappen (current era) — who is the greatest F1 driver ever? Still unresolved.
Overtake
Passing another driver during the race.
Pole Position
Fastest qualifier; starts the race in P1 — the best position on the grid.
DNF
Did Not Finish; the driver retired from the race due to a crash or mechanical failure.
DNS
Did Not Start; the driver never made it to the grid for the race.
Formation Lap
The lap before the race start — drivers warm tyres and brakes before returning to their grid slots.
Lights Out
The moment the race begins — five red lights appear one by one, then extinguish all at once to signal go.
Slipstream
Drafting in the low-pressure wake behind another car for a top-speed boost on long straights.
Pit Wall
Where the engineers and strategists watch the race and communicate with the driver via radio.
Tear-Off
Disposable plastic visor strips drivers peel away during pit stops to clear dust and debris.
Lock Up
Wheels stop rotating under hard braking, flat-spotting the tyre and leaving a white smoke trail.
Marbles
Bits of shed tyre rubber that collect off the racing line — extremely slippery if driven over.
Out Lap / In Lap
First or last lap of a stint as a driver leaves or returns to the pits — tyres not yet at temperature.