Like it or not, crashes will always be a part of F1’s appeal, as any form of motorsport, providing no one gets hurt. They are especially fascinating in F1, because these drivers are supposed to be the world’s best. It is in celebration of the fact that this isn’t always the case that we reveal … Continue reading The Crash Awards
Formula 1 articles archive
The Formula 1 world championship began in 1950 and is considered the world’s leading form of single-seater motorsport. The 2025 F1 season is the 75th time the world championship has been held.
The most successful F1 drivers in history are seven-times world champions Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher. In 2021 the former became the first and so far only driver to date to win 100 grands prix.
While Schumacher retired from F1 at the end of 2012, Hamilton continues to race. His rival world champions in the series are Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso.
There are 10 teams active in the championship, each of which field cars for two drivers. Each team is required to design and build the majority of its cars but may source some parts including engines, gearboxes and certain other components.
Ferrari has won the F1 constructors’ championship more times than any other team, with 16 titles. It is also the only team which has competed in every championship since the first season of Formula 1.
The Formula 1 calendar typically runs from March to November each year. Pre-season tests take place in February and March, and a post-season test is usually scheduled for late November or December.
A championship now includes over three times as many rounds as early seasons did. Seven rounds counted towards the first world championship – including the Indianapolis 500, despite it being run to different rules – but the 2025 F1 calendar has now grown to 24 races. The series visits Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Asia and Australasia. It has not raced in Africa since 1993.
Two organisations are responsible for running F1. The Federation Internazionale de l’Automobile (FIA), based in Paris, France, administers and governs the sport. Its commercial rights are leased to Formula 1 Management (FOM) which was purchased by the US-based company Liberty Media in 2017.
Index of F1 articles on RaceFans:
Editorial: Formula Ferrari
Posted onSuspended in a three-week limbo between races, the political machinations in F1 again become the focus of attention. This time, two significant individuals have broken ranks with the group-of-nine and joined Bernie Ecclestone, Max Mosley and Jean Todt at the negotiating table. Before we get to the heart of what this means for the attempts … Continue reading Editorial: Formula Ferrari
Editorial: Passion Killer
Posted onIt’s been a fixture for 25 years but the San Marino Grand Prix, the next stop on the F1 calendar, isn’t what it was. 2005 hasn’t been a bad season so far and now, at Bahrain, we have had our first real corker of a race. There was plenty of passing up and down the … Continue reading Editorial: Passion Killer
When they were young
Posted onFour rookie drivers made their debut in last month’s Australian Grand Prix, and acquitted themselves with varying degrees of success. But how well did the rest of the grid fare on their debut races – did they show glimpses of greatness or opening night nerves? 1991 Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps Michael Schumacher, Jordan Ford – … Continue reading When they were young
Montoya’s injury
Posted onJuan Pablo Montoya’s indifferent start to 2005 is not calculated to improve with the news that he will not race in Bahrain, still nursuing a shoulder fracture incurred while playing tennis. Frustratingly for McLaren they have still not modified an MP4-20 to fit their taller and preferred third driver, Alex Wurz. Instead, their second test … Continue reading Montoya’s injury
Editorial: Come get some
Posted onPremiership footballers are latest thing corrupting the nation’s youth. Apparently the sight of angry, impassioned sportsmen raging at referees over decisions that have gone against them is warping the fragile little minds of Britain’s junk food-stuffed sprogs. Some teachers and parents are even going so far as to suggest that football be screened after the … Continue reading Editorial: Come get some
Bookshelf Essentials: Formula One Fanatic
Posted onThe majority of books on Formula One are biographies of driver and histories of famous teams. Koen Vergeer’s Formula One Fanatic is something quite different, and an essential book for fellow F1 fans. Koen Vergeer’s Formula One Fanatic is a rare piece in the world of F1 literature – it’s not yet another cash-in biography … Continue reading Bookshelf Essentials: Formula One Fanatic
Bookshelf Essentials: F1 – The Autobiography
Posted onThere are no shortage of coffee-table F1 books, resplendent with exquisite photography and teeming with statistics. But Formula 1: The Autobiography, though huge, offers something more: The history of F1 in the words of the drivers themselves. Walk into any second-hand bookshop and in the motorsport section you’ll probably find a few dozen different ‘encyclopedias’ … Continue reading Bookshelf Essentials: F1 – The Autobiography
Bookshel Essentials: Villeneuve
Posted onGerald Donaldson’s memorable biography of Gilles Villeneuve is tipped to become a film to hit cinema screens in 2007. It is a classic book on one of the sport’s most beloved drivers, that every F1 fan should read. There have been many Formula One drivers who have impressed, astounded even, and tragically died, leaving behind … Continue reading Bookshel Essentials: Villeneuve
“The Life of Ayrton Senna” reviewed
Posted onYes, it’s just what Formula One literature needs – yet another biography of Ayrton Senna. But Tom Rubython’s biography can make a worthy claim to being the definitive work on one of F1’s greatest figures. The Life of Ayrton Senna is a substantial 600-plus page work, meticulously researched and thoroughly detailed. Rubython is the author … Continue reading “The Life of Ayrton Senna” reviewed
Ferrari offer testing truce?
Posted onAccording to Autosport-Atlas Ferrari have decided to cancel their testing session at Silverstone in June. It is a response to the near-universal criticism of their refusal to pursue cost-cutting reductions in testing. However there is still no sign that they will back down from their two somewhat contradictory stances on testing: that their reduction in … Continue reading Ferrari offer testing truce?
Schumacher drives F2005
Posted onMichael Schumacher has finally gotten behind the wheel of the F2005 and immediately after getting out of the car told the journos from Autosport-Atlas and that this was the super-fact, razor-sharp machine that would allow him to renew his crushing domination of F1: “This car has been driven quite a lot, it’s not as if … Continue reading Schumacher drives F2005
Editorial: So what’s it gonna be this time?
Posted onFerrari are in trouble – there is no doubt about it. They never looked like running with the leaders all weekend long, and by the end of second qualifying Michael Schumacher was four seconds behind, languishing in 13th. After 56 laps he was 1m 20s behind Alonso, and had been lapped at one stage. A … Continue reading Editorial: So what’s it gonna be this time?
Villeneuve: Should he stay or should he go?
Posted onFew drivers split opinion in the way Jacques Villeneuve does. Some see him as a mercurial genius who livens up the Grand Prix paddock with his bravery and outspoken antics. Others feels he is a waster who talks better than he races. When he left BAR towards the end of 2003, most people agreed that … Continue reading Villeneuve: Should he stay or should he go?
‘Group of nine’ write to Ferrari
Posted onFerrari are under pressure on and off the track. On track the F2004-M has not proved up to the job of supporting Schumache’s bid for an eighth title, and off track the manufacturers are blasting Ferrari for refusing to sign up to the testing ban agrred by the other nine teams in Brazil. Of those … Continue reading ‘Group of nine’ write to Ferrari
Alonso dominates at Sepang and takes championship lead
2005 Malaysian Grand Prix review
Posted onFernando Alonso staked a claim to the 2005 world championship with a crushing display in the Malaysian heat, while Michael Schumacher could only manage seventh.
Autosport-Atlas merger
Posted onThe Autosport & Atlas F1 merger has finally happened and the new combined site is up at www.autosport-atlas.com. Issue 4 of F1Fanatic will give the site a full review. Both Autosport-Atlas and ITV-F1 are running the story that David Coulthard is criticising the way Michael Schumacher beckoned marshall’s assistance to escape from turn three at … Continue reading Autosport-Atlas merger
Villeneuve out, Davidson in?
Posted onAutosport and ITV-F1 are talking up BAR’s hotshoe tester Anthony Davidson again, this time as a replacement for 1997 champion Jacques Villeneuve at Sauber. Neither BAR nor Sauber have confirmed the rumour. Davidson is clearly more deserving of a race seat than a substantial number of F1 drivers, but in spite of this and the … Continue reading Villeneuve out, Davidson in?
Ralf & Toyota
Posted onAccording to Autosport, Ralf Schumacher thinks the relibaility of the Toyota will help him score points in Malaysia. Has he overlooked the fact that only Minardi posted a mechanical retirement in Melbourne? Being charitable, perhaps he’s just banking on a lot of engine failures as they are required to two full distances for the first … Continue reading Ralf & Toyota
Editorial: Singin’ in the Rain
Posted onIt’s everywhere at the moment, that Volkswagen advert. I do rather like the funked-up Mint Royale mix of Singing in the Rain but I must confess the motion-captured impression of Gene Kelly is downright scary and I have to hide behind the sofa when it’s on. But when the public is used to the same … Continue reading Editorial: Singin’ in the Rain