And so another race was finished with the announcement of Sebastian Vettel as the winner in the just concluded Formula One Singapore Grand Prix amidst fireworks and much jubilation.  For people whose lifestyle does not include it or whose interest in it is quite nil, Formula One or F1 may be just another event in the world of car racing.  To car racing enthusiasts however,  F1 is a highly anticipated event.

The History of Formula One

The official name of Formula One is FIA ( Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) Formula One World Championship.  It is considered the highest class in single-seater auto racing and consists of a series of races called the Grand Prix which translates to French as “grand prizes”.   Contrary to common misconception that the word “formula” refers to a certain substance used by racing cars, formula actually refers to a set of rules which every participating car has to comply with.

It started from the European Grand Prix Motor Racing held during the 1920s to the 1930s.  The so-called formula was agreed upon after the Second World War in 1946 and was formalized in 1947.  The venue of the First World Championship Race was in Silverstone, UK held in the year 1950.  The very first winning driver was Giuseppe Farina, an Italian who used an Alfa Romeo.

Porsche Carrera Cup

Formula One

Formula One Night Race

Formula One Challenge

Aside from the race driver, Formula One has another player in the person of the car constructor.  The results of the series of races held on circuits built for such specific purpose as well as public roads are combined through a pre-determined point system to come up with a winning driver and constructor, respectively.  All participants in this event are required to be holders of Super Licenses issued only by FIA.

During the early stages of Formula One Challenge events, the teams who joined were mostly managed by road car manufacturers such as Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, and Maserati.  During the 1980s however, specialist race teams in the likes of Williams, Benetton, and McLaren, dominated the scene.  The manufacturer teams only regained dominance in 2006 with the active participation of the likes of Renault, Ferrari. BMW, Toyota, and Honda.

The economic recession during the years 2008 to 2009 saw the withdrawal from participation of Toyota, Honda, and BMW.  This signaled the return of the privateers as many teams went through management buyouts.  At present, there are only three remaining car manufacturers in the sport namely Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren.  It should be noted that the last two have been partners for at least 15 seasons and has recently parted ways.  The Drivers’ Champion Sebastian Vettel of the recently concluded Singapore Grand Prix is part of the Red Bull Racing team which also came out as the Constructors‘ Champion.

The Schumacher and Vergne Incident

The Personalities

Formula One has produced several personalities and celebrities in its entire run.  Juan Manuel Fangio, the Argentine teammate of first winner Farina, conquered the next five races to become the first record-holder of consecutive wins in the race.  His winning streak was stopped by Michael Schumacher, a German who held on to the title for six years before being effectively stopped himself by an injury.

In spite of having less wins than Schumacher, Fangio is considered the Grand Master of Formula One.  Schumacher for his part has had much commercial success than any other race driver.  Stirling Moss of UK who never won a single race but participated regularly is recognized as “The Greatest Driver Who Never Won”.

Formula One as a Business Enterprise

Formula One is already a billion-dollar business primarily due to commercial rights.  While car manufacturers continue in their bid to produce the fastest cars in the world, the business enterprise is developing on the side as well.  Participation in the event has proven to be profitable to all as it creates jobs, provides revenues for management, makes profits for broadcasting channels, and makes money for teams through rights and sponsorship.

The number of Grand Prix races are determined every year and are held in different locations all over the world.  Some of the countries where F1 races have seen action include Bahrain, Australia, Malaysia, Turkey, Spain, Monaco, Canada, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Belgium, Singapore, Japan, Korea, India, Abu Dhabi, Brazil, Great Britain, China, and the US.  Drivers and constructors are always looking forward to the next event.

Marina Bay Sands Fireworks after the Announcement of Winners

My Say

The Formula One events will continue to attract spectators wherever they are held. These events do not only pose a challenge to drivers but to car manufacturers as well. The quest for speed will always involve excellence of the machine and the skill of the drivers.