Formula 1 RPG

Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel, single-seater formula racing cars run by the Formula One Group and sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one of the world's premier forms of motorsport since its inaugural running in 1950 and is often considered to be the pinnacle of motorsport. The word formula in the name refers to the set of rules all participant cars must follow. A Formula One season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix. Grands Prix take place in multiple countries and continents on either purpose-built circuits or closed roads, as street circuits.

A points scoring system is used at Grands Prix to determine two annual World Championships: one for the drivers, and one for the constructors—now synonymous with teams. Each driver must hold a valid Super Licence, the highest class of racing licence the FIA issues, and the races must be held on Grade One tracks, the highest grade rating the FIA issues for circuits.

Formula One cars are the world's fastest regulated road-course racing cars, owing to high cornering speeds achieved by generating large amounts of aerodynamic downforce, most of which is generated by front and rear wings, as well as underbody tunnels. The cars depend on electronics, aerodynamics, suspension, and tyres.

Racing

A Formula One Grand Prix event spans a weekend. It typically begins with two free practice sessions on Friday and a third on Saturday. Additional drivers (commonly known as third drivers) are allowed to run on Fridays, but only two cars may be used per team, requiring a race driver to give up their seat. A qualifying session is held after the last free practice session. This session determines the starting order for the race on Sunday.

Tyre Rules and Tyre Sets

Each driver is allotted thirteen sets of dry-weather tyres, three sets of wet-weather tyres, and four sets of intermediate tyres for each race weekend. All unused tyres must be returned.

• Soft (Red): 8 sets (fastest grip, highest wear)-
• Medium (Yellow): 3 sets (balanced performance and life).
• Hard (White): 2 sets (most durable, slowest warm-up).
• Intermediate/Inter (Green): 4 sets (light standing water).
• Wet (Blue): 3 sets (heavy standing water).

Qualifying

For much of the sport's history, qualifying sessions differed little from practice sessions; drivers would have one or more sessions to set timed laps, with the grid order determined by each driver's best single lap, the fastest getting the position at the front, referred to as the pole position.

The current qualifying format, known as "knock-out" qualifying, was introduced in the 2006 season. It is divided into three stages, referred to as Q1, Q2, and Q3. Drivers may complete as many laps as they choose in an attempt to progress to the next stage, with the slowest drivers being eliminated at the end of each round. Any timed lap started before the end of that period may be completed and will count toward that driver's placement. The number of cars eliminated in each session is dependent on the total number of cars entered in the championship.

With 22 cars on the grid, Q1 runs for 18 minutes and eliminates the slowest six drivers. During this session, any driver whose best lap takes longer than 107% of the fastest time in Q1 will not be allowed to start the race without permission from the stewards. In Q2, the 16 remaining drivers have 15 minutes to set one of the ten fastest times and proceed to the next period. Finally, Q3 lasts 12 minutes and determines the first ten grid positions.

Each car is allocated one set of the softest tyres for use in Q3. The cars that qualify for Q3 must return them after the session; the cars that do not qualify for the round can use them during the race. Any penalties that affect grid position are applied at the end of qualifying.

Sprints

Sprints would have their own qualifying session, titled the "sprint shootout". Sprint qualifying sessions are much shorter than traditional qualifying runs, and each session requires teams to fit new tyres, mediums for SQ1 and SQ2, and softs for SQ3.

Race

The race begins with a formation lap to allow the drivers to check the condition of their car and the track, and to warm up their tyres to increase traction and grip, after which the cars assemble on the starting grid in the order they qualified.

Once all the cars have lined up on the grid, the medical car positions itself behind the pack. Five red lights are then illuminated above the track at intervals of one second; before being extinguished simultaneously after an unspecified time to signal the start of the race. The start procedure may be aborted in the event of a serious accident, dangerous conditions, or if a driver stalls on the grid or on the track in an unsafe position, signalled by raising their arm. The race may also be started from behind the Safety Car if a racing start is considered excessively dangerous, such as in extremely heavy rainfall. There is no formation lap in such a circumstance.

Throughout the race, drivers may make pit stops to change tyres and repair damage. Three dry tyre compounds, with different durability and adhesion characteristics, are available to drivers. Under wet conditions, drivers may switch to one of two specialised wet-weather tyres with additional grooves. Over the course of a race, drivers must make at least one pit stop and use two different available tyre compounds.

The race finishes when the leader has completed the predetermined number of laps.

Positions for drivers on the same lap are then determined in the order that they cross the finish line. Lapped cars that have completed at least 90% of the distance are then classified according to their relative track position and number of laps completed. Races can, however, be paused or ended early if the conditions become unsafe. In the case of suspension, a ten-minute warning is given before the race is resumed behind the safety car.

Safety Car

In the event of an incident that risks the safety of competitors or trackside race marshals, race officials may choose to deploy the safety car. This neutralises the race, with drivers required to follow the safety car in race order at reduced speed, and overtaking is not allowed. Lapped cars may, if permitted by the race director, be allowed to unlap themselves in order to ensure a smoother restart. The safety car remains on the track until the danger is cleared. After the safety car comes off the track, the race restarts with a rolling start, with the leading car taking over its role until they reach the timing line. Pit stops under a safety car are permitted, and in many cases can offer a great advantage to teams who can pit and change tyres before the end of the safety car period.

Mercedes-Benz has supplied a variety of its AMG models to Formula One to use as the safety car since 1996. From 2021 onwards, Aston Martin has supplied the Vantage to share duties with Mercedes-AMGs. Since 2000, the main safety car driver has been German ex-racing driver Bernd Mayländer. He is usually joined by FIA technical assistant Richard Darker, who relays information between the safety car and race control.

Virtual Safety Car (VSC)

In 2014, the FIA established an "accident panel" to investigate the circumstances surrounding Jules Bianchi's fatal crash at the Japanese Grand Prix. They were tasked with identifying measures to reduce the risk of similar incidents, particularly in situations where deploying a safety car is not justified and yellow flags alone are inadequate.

One of the recommendations was the introduction of a Virtual Safety Car period during which drivers must keep their lap times above a pre-determined minimum, also known as keeping a positive delta.

Flags

• SC Board (Safety Car) Shown in conjunction with a yellow flag to indicate that the Safety Car is on track. Drivers must hold position and slow down.

• VSC Board (Virtual Safety Car) Shown in conjunction with a yellow flag to indicate that the virtual safety car is in use. During this time, the drivers are given minimum sector times that they must stay above, otherwise they will be penalised.

• Yellow Indicates a hazard on or near the track. Double waved yellows inform drivers that they must slow down, and be prepared to stop, as marshals are working on or near the track.

• Green Normal racing conditions apply. This is usually shown following a yellow flag or a safety car to indicate that the hazard has been passed. A green flag is also shown at the start of a session.

• Yellow and red striped Slippery track, due to oil, water, or loose debris. It is also 'rocked' from side to side to indicate a small animal on track.

• Blue Indicates that the driver must let faster cars behind them pass because they are being lapped. If a driver misses the flag three times, they can be penalised.

• White Indicates that there is a slow car ahead. Often waved at the end of the pit lane when a car is about to leave the pits.

• Black and orange circle Car is damaged or has a mechanical problem, must return to the pit lane immediately.

• Black and white Warns a driver about poor sportsmanship or dangerous behaviour. Can be followed by a Black flag upon further infringement.

• Black Indicates that a driver is disqualified. It can be issued after a black and white flag.

• Red Immediately halts the race or session when the conditions become too dangerous to continue.

• Chequered flag End of the practice, qualifying, or racing session.

Points system

1st: 25 point 2nd: 18 3rd: 15 4th: 12 5th: 10 6th: 8 7th: 6 8th: 4 9th: 2 10th: 1

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