Formula One

Formula One or F1 is the premier category of Motor sport, with cars racing at over 350 kph. They mostly race on purpose-built circuits but sometimes on closed streets, with Monaco the most famous example.

Each F1 racetrack is different, with its own mix of straights, tight bends and chicanes. It’s a much sterner test of driving skill than the oval tracks used in other racing categories, where the simpler corners and long straights favour brute engine power. F1 tracks are 4-5 km long and the race is over enough laps to total 305 km. Cars usually make one or two pit stops to change tyres, but they may not re-fuel.

Grand Prix or GP is the series of F1 races over a year, with winners totting up points towards the World Championship. "Grand Prix" means big prize and these are the most lucrative racing events, drawing the best cars and drivers plus huge crowds. That term might also translate as huge price, as only manufacturers with deep pockets can afford to develop such cars, field teams and transport them continually around the world. Barely a dozen can do so.

Formula One races are sometimes held outside the Grand Prix calendar, but these are more modest events, and from the traveller’s point of view F1 and GP are much the same.

The first organised motor race was in 1867 and totally illegal: a pair of vehicles careered through the cobbled streets of Manchester, like Mister Toad versus Mister Punch. But of course the police couldn’t catch them, and the public was fascinated - this was much more exciting than horse-racing! Manufacturers wanted to show off their machines' prowess, a dedicated racetrack made it legal and much more practical, and a circuit was a better spectacle than a point-to-point. The first motor track was at Aspendale, Victoria in 1906, set within an existing horse-racing track. But to work as a spectator sport, races had to be a test of driving skill between comparable cars. There had to be a specification – a formula – for competitors. Formula One was the inaugural specification for the top class of cars, drawing the most prize money, so "Grand Prix" became the term for races under those rules. The first Grand Prix was in Turin in 1946, and from 1950 a series of such races was held, with drivers scoring cumulative points. The Formula One World Championship now has 24 races over a calendar year, spanning the globe.

The formula is long, complex, evolving and acrimonious – no season would be complete without a dust-up over its interpretation. The fundamental is that a car is powered and controlled entirely through its wheels, it can’t be a jet or rocket mounted on a trolley. Cars are therefore "out-wheeled", with big wheels to maximise traction, projecting beyond the car body. The engine has over 750 bhp and 18,000 rpm, and sits in the middle just behind the driver, so the weight is evenly distributed. A lightweight monocoque shell encloses them, shaped like a downward-acting wing to minimise air resistance while maximising downthrust for road grip. Put it all together and you have a beast capable of over 350 km/h.

A Formula One Grand Prix is held over a weekend as described below, then the circus moves on. Naturally those expensive circuit facilities don’t sit idle the rest of the year. There are races in other categories (described in Motor sport), closed-door testing and training sessions, and try-drive experiences booked as 40th birthday gifts for greying wannabees. Plus venue hire, rock concerts, practice exercises for the fire brigade . . . but far and away the big money-spinner is the Grand Prix. Gaining or losing a slot in the calendar is a very big deal for the racetrack, and indeed for national prestige.

Formula One events have practice sessions on Friday, qualifying on Saturday, and the race on Sunday. The exception is Monaco, with practice on Thursday, leaving Friday free. As each track has a different length and layout, cars do enough laps to total at least 305 km in the main race (25 points for a win, 18 for second, and so on). Some events also include a sprint race of 100 km (8 for a win). These are interspersed with "support" races in other formulas.

• Friday has a morning and an afternoon Free Practice session of one hour. Teams optimise their car for local conditions and try out new drivers, but there's no penalty at this stage for underperformance or breakdown.
• Saturday morning is the final Free Practice, then the afternoon is Qualifying with three races of about 15 min. "Seeding" might be a better word, a slow uncompetitive car will be eliminated from the event but the main business is to select the faster cars to start at the front of the grid on Sunday, with the fastest in the coveted "pole position". Imagine the shunt if they got it wrong.
• Sunday is the climax, with the race some time in the afternoon depending on local climate, or even at night. There's a dummy lap just to warm the cars, then they halt in their assigned grid positions, and watch the traffic light - and they're off! The race might take 90 min, but a red flag for a track emergency stops cars and clock.
• Sprints are held on six of the Grand Prix weekends, so the schedule is modified. There's only a single Free Practice on Friday morning, then the afternoon is Sprint Qualifying (three races of about 10 min). The sprint race of 100 km is on Saturday morning, then the schedule goes back to normal with Grand Prix qualifying in the afternoon.
• Support races: the Formula One cars are only in action for six hours over the three days, so the crowd need something else to keep them entertained. Drum Majorettes won't do it, they've paid to watch racing, so races are staged in other car categories, described further in Motor sport. Formula 2 is the tier below F1, Formula 3 is the third tier, Formula E is for electric cars, and in Porsche Supercup everyone drives an identical Porsche 911 GT3. Each category has its own practice and qualifying sessions. The support works both ways, as being at a Grand Prix gives these races an audience and media profile that they couldn't otherwise hope for.

The race calendar is now set to the end of 2027. The main changes from previous years are that Portugal and Turkey join the calendar. The Dutch Grand Prix drops out, and Belgium henceforth alternates with Barcelona, so the number of races remains at 24.

For 2027 only, the race distance drops from 305 to 285 km, five fewer laps. A change in the engine spec makes cars consume more fuel; in-race refueling is not permitted (it’s a fire hazard), so over the full distance they’d run dry. A further adjustment to the spec for 2028 will obviate that problem and races will revert to the full 305 km.

Bahrain GP is 12-14 March 2027 at Sakhir Circuit in Southern Governorate. There's a pre-season testing session on 24-27 Feb.

Saudi Arabian GP is 19-21 March 2027 on the Corniche Circuit in Jeddah.

Australian GP is 2-4 April 2027. The circuit is around Albert Park in the inner south of Melbourne. It's a public park the rest of the year.

Japanese GP is 9-11 April 2027 at Suzuka Circuit.

Chinese GP is 16-18 April 2027 on Shanghai International Circuit in Jiading district.

Miami GP is 30 April-2 May 2027 at Miami International Autodrome. The circuit surrounds Hard Rock Stadium, home of the NFL's Miami Dolphins, and it's in Miami Gardens 16 miles / 26 km north of downtown Miami.

Canadian GP is 21-23 May 2027. It's on Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve within Parc Jean-Drapeau on Notre-Dame island across from downtown Montréal.

Monaco GP is 4-6 June 2027. This is the famous helter-skelter circuit through the narrow streets of Monaco.

Portuguese GP is 18-20 June 2027 at Algarve International Circuit near Portimão.

British GP is 2-4 July 2027 at Silverstone in the English Midlands.

Austrian GP is 9-11 July 2027 at Red Bull Ring, Spielberg in Styria.

Belgian GP is 23-25 July 2027 at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, near Spa in Belgium the original spa resort.

Barcelona-Catalunya GP has an off-year in 2027, as it alternates with the Belgian GP, and is next held in summer 2028. It's in Montmeló 30 km northeast of Barcelona.

Hungarian GP is 30 July-1 Aug 2027 at Hungaroring in Mogyoród village, Gödöllő.

Italian GP is 3-5 Sep 2027 in Monza 10 km north of Milan.

Spanish GP is 10-12 Sep 2027. It's in Madring, a street circuit around the Trade Fair Centre in Barajas district of Madrid near the airport.

Azerbaijan GP is 24-26 Sep 2027 through the streets of Baku.

Turkish GP is 1-3 Oct 2027 at Istanbul Park in the eastern suburbs of Istanbul.

Singapore GP is 8-10 Oct 2027 on Marina Bay Street Circuit.

United States GP is 22-24 Oct 2027 at Circuit of the Americas, south side of Austin, Texas.

Mexican GP is 30 Oct-1 Nov 2026 then 29-31 Nov 2027 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Iztacalco district of Mexico City.

Brazilian GP is 6-8 Nov 2026 then 5-7 Nov 2027 at Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Interlagos, south of São Paulo.

Las Vegas GP is 20-22 Nov 2026 then 18-20 Nov 2027. It's held at night on-road through the city, including the Las Vegas Strip.

Qatar GP is 27-29 Nov 2026 then 3-5 Nov 2027 on Lusail circuit in Doha.

Abu Dhabi GP concludes the calendar, on 4-6 Dec 2026 then 10-12 Dec 2027 on Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island.

There are more tracks capable of hosting a Grand Prix than there are slots in the calendar. Those that hold an FIA Grade One license could do so at fairly short notice, if another venue had to drop out.

Sepang is the prime example of this. It's 45 km south of Kuala Lumpur and hosted the Malaysian GP from 1999 to 2017. But in 2026 the Bahrain GP was disrupted by war in the Middle East and relocated here.

Zandvoort hosted the Dutch GP until 2026. It's on the north Dutch coast.

Imola near Bologna hosted the Emilia Romagna GP until 2025.

Hockenheimring hosted the German GP until 2019. It's near Hockenheim in the upper Rhine valley, 20 km south of Mannheim.

Only buy tickets through a reputable agency, there are lots of crooks out there. Consider whether you want to organise your own flights, accommodation and local transport, or whether it makes sense to buy a package. You can buy tickets for all three days of the event, or for one specific day - Sunday as the race climax is the most expensive.

General admission tickets are the cheapest and most easily available, and they don't restrict you to a particular section of the track. Many circuits have viewing banks that general admission ticket-holders can use, although these fill up quickly so get there early for a good spot. Scout for locations on Friday and Saturday, so you go straight to it on Sunday. Standing is also available away from the viewing areas. The general areas have no protection from the sun, rain or wind, and the ground may be rough and wet, so dress accordingly and bring something to sit on.

Grandstand tickets give the best view of the central section of the track and often have a large screen projecting the action from elsewhere on the circuit. Tickets are for a specific seat, and the better the view and the more protection from the weather, the pricier the ticket.

Expect heavy traffic and a 30-min queue both driving in and getting out. The parking areas are huge so make a note of your aisle and lot number, and any landmarks such as a gantry that might help you return to your car.

Some circuits have a shuttle bus, so you park off-site and are shuttled in via a dedicated lane, like at an airport.

Helicopters may offer an air-taxi service from nearby airfields, bringing you in minutes to a helipad within the circuit.

Walking is usually the only way to move between areas, with bridges and tunnels connecting the interior of the circuit with the exterior. Circuit maps are printed within official programs and on boards dotted around the track: take a picture or screenshot with your phone.

There will be many stalls situated just outside the viewing areas selling all kinds of F1 and motorsport memorabilia. Stock typically includes official team/driver merchandise and clothing; pictures and paintings; branded gear such as umbrellas, binoculars and flags; DVDs and other media; and collectible racing car models. Official programs will also be on sale. Be prepared to pay high prices (remember you're mainly paying for the brand), but they can make excellent souvenirs from the event and the gear can be used again for future events. These can usually be purchased online for cheaper prior to the weekend.

With these tracks often located away from city centers, hotels near many of the circuits can sell out up to a year in advance, so if you are intending on staying nearby book early. Some venues, such as Silverstone, allow camping on fields adjacent to the circuit. You will probably need to book a camping ticket to take advantage of this, and these too usually sell out fast so book early if you want to take this option.

Despite the high visibility of the 'motorsport is dangerous' notices Formula One has quite a good spectator safety record. However, no matter how safe a restricted part of the track may seem you should not venture onto these areas as they can be quite dangerous. Previous spectator fatalities at Formula One races have been caused by the spectators in question being on a restricted part of the track. Sticking to the proper areas drastically reduces the chances of being hurt in an accident. Moving vehicles operate in the paddock areas and along service roads, so keep your eyes and ears open. If someone is hurt, there are medical tents with trained staff at various points around the track; these are marked clearly on circuit diagram boards.

The following general precautions should also be taken:

• Earplugs are highly recommended especially for young children and those going for the first time. Formula One cars are ear-damagingly loud and having 20 cars over a sustained period of 90 minutes can cause harm. Earplugs will probably be available at the track and some circuits offer basic versions for free. If you are intending on taking a radio to listen to the on-track commentary use a pair on in-ear monitors that can double as earplugs.
• Sun protection is advised as many races take place in the summer with only grandstand seats getting any meaningful shade. Wide-brimmed caps are handy, and sunglasses are optional.
• Waterproof clothing is a necessity especially for those not in sheltered areas. Even if the forecast is dry, some areas (for example Spa-Francorchamps) may experience large changes in conditions over a small area. Take a strong umbrella to cope with windy weather, otherwise bring a waterproof coat.