What Formula 1 is
Formula 1 is the highest class of international single-seater auto racing. Ten teams, each with two drivers, compete in a series of races called Grands Prix across the world. Points are awarded at each race, and the driver and team with the most points at the end of the season win the World Drivers' Championship and the World Constructors' Championship.
A Formula 1 car is the fastest circuit-racing car in the world. In 2026, the cars are powered by a hybrid power unit that splits energy roughly 50/50 between a turbocharged internal combustion engine and electrical power, and they use Active Aero to adjust their aerodynamic configuration during the race.
How a race weekend works
A standard F1 weekend has three phases:
Practice (Friday): Three sessions — FP1, FP2, and FP3 — where teams test setups, check tire behavior, and gather data. Practice times do not determine grid position.
Qualifying (Saturday): A knockout format with three segments — Q1, Q2, and Q3. The five slowest drivers are eliminated after Q1, another five after Q2, and the remaining ten fight for pole position in Q3. The qualifying order determines the starting grid for Sunday's race.
Race (Sunday): The Grand Prix itself. Races run for a set number of laps (usually around 300 km total distance). The top 10 finishers score championship points: 25 for first, 18 for second, 15 for third, then 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, and 1. An extra point is awarded for the fastest lap if the driver finishes in the top 10.
Some weekends also include a Sprint, a shorter race on Saturday that awards its own points and sets the grid for a separate qualifying session.
The teams and drivers in 2026
The 2026 grid has ten teams:
- Mercedes — Andrea Kimi Antonelli, George Russell
- Ferrari — Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc
- Red Bull Racing — Max Verstappen, Yuki Tsunoda
- McLaren — Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri
- Aston Martin — Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll
- Alpine — Pierre Gasly, Franco Colapinto
- Williams — Carlos Sainz, Alexander Albon
- Haas — Oliver Bearman, Esteban Ocon
- Racing Bulls — Liam Lawson, Arvid Lindblad
- Audi — Nico Hulkenberg, Gabriel Bortoleto
- Cadillac — Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas
After three rounds in 2026, Mercedes leads both championships, with Antonelli at the top of the drivers' standings.
Key rules to know
- DRS was replaced by Active Aero in 2026. Drivers can now adjust front and rear wing elements between high-downforce and low-drag configurations, tied to the new Overtake Mode and Boost system.
- Pit stops are mandatory at least once per race because drivers must use at least two different tire compounds during dry races.
- Penalties come in many forms: drive-through, stop-and-go, time penalties, grid drops, and super license points.
- Flags communicate track conditions: yellow for danger, red for a stopped session, blue for a faster car approaching, and chequered for the end of the session.
Where to learn more
This site has detailed explainers on every topic mentioned above. Here is where to start:
- If you want to understand the rules: How F1 Qualifying Works, F1 Points System, F1 Flags
- If you want to understand the cars: F1 Active Aero, F1 Aerodynamics Basics, F1 2026 Power Unit Changes
- If you want to understand the strategy: F1 Tire Strategy, F1 Pit Stops, F1 Team Radio
- If you want to follow the current season: 2026 Season Overview