When people think of motor racing, many think of fast cars driving hundreds of laps around a boring circular track. Many consider it a bleak sport that is not worth tuning into, while others do consider it a sport at all. However, those who refuse to open their mind to this sport will miss out on the thrill of the turns, the heartbreaking crashes, the incredible cars, and the drivers that personify them.
There are different leagues of motorsports, and Formula 1 is a league where engineering and aerodynamics play an important role. It is an international sport based in the United Kingdom that features drivers from around the world. These drivers begin training at a young age by karting. The most promising racers can join different academies to develop their skills further. The best of the best are awarded a spot on one of the ten F1 teams, where engineers have a limited amount of money to construct a car that fits their overall team strategy for the season. Teams compete to win points in every race in the hopes of being awarded the Constructors or Drivers Championship There are ten official F1 teams that each have two drivers. Some of the most well-known include Mercedes, Red Bull Racing, McLaren, Aston Martin, and Ferrari.
There are three important days of an F1 week. The practice days and qualifying race lead up to the Grand Prix, which is generally held on a Sunday. Some weeks include a Sprint Shootout where drivers can earn extra points before the Grand Prix. Each week, the teams travel to different parts of the world to perform their three-day race event. They thrill crowds all over the world and race in unique and spectacular locations.
In the 2023 season, Formula 1 fans witnessed history as Max Verstappen smashed records on his way to becoming World Champion for the third time. From the start of the season in Bahrain to the end of the season in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen has dominated the track. He broke multiple records, including leading over 1000 laps, getting the most consecutive wins, and winning another record for most pole positions. Verstappen won 19 out of 22 races, showcasing his incredible skill as a driver and the dominance of the Red Bull car.
With the new season comes new changes both for driver contracts and cars. Haas will be the first team to launch their new car on Feb. 2, 2023, and the final car launch will be Red Bull Racing on Feb. 15, 2023. Other changes include Alfa Romeo submitting a request to change their name and becoming the Stake F1 team. Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes also just announced that he will be joining Ferrari for the 2025 season in place of Carlos Sainz Jr. With these new introductions, fans can look forward to an exciting season.
F1 officially began in 1950, and since then it has not only progressed in complexity but also in media. Recent improvements in their social media and outreach have given F1 the recognition it truly deserves. After Max Verstappen’s historic 2023 season, the next season brings another round of teams vying to end Red Bull Racing’s dominance. The first practice will be on Feb. 29, 2023, and the cars will roll out onto the Bahrain track on March 2, 2023, when the lights go out for the first Grand Prix of the season.
