History of Formula

Nowadays, you can’t find a person who hasn’t heard of Formula 1. Today it is one of the most prestigious and popular sports on the planet. An incredibly exciting spectacle: beautiful and powerful cars, competition between the best pilots, full stands of loyal fans. All this can be observed every year not only on TV, but also live - the most devoted fans of this sport specially travel many thousands of kilometers to see the competitions with their own eyes and cheer for their favorite team. Just look at the roar of the engine, tearing the air, the frantic speed of the cars flying along the bizarre turns of the track and the encouraging cries of an enthusiastic crowd of thousands of fans, which can be heard even in the cockpit.

In the distant 1920-30s, the first prerequisites for the emergence of Formula 1 appeared. It was then that the teams participating in various auto racing Grand Prix adopted the regulations for the first world championship. It was supposed to take place in 1941, but did not take place due to the outbreak of World War II. It was not until 1946 that the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) formed final regulations, which came into force in 1947.

. How it all began

The first Grand Prix took place in 1950 at a track called Silverstone in Great Britain, and was won by Alfa Romeo driver, Italian Giuseppe Farina. Farina slightly outperformed his teammate Juan Manuel Fangio. By the way, Fangio would go on to win the world title five times. It is interesting that from 1958 to 1969, only English-speaking pilots - British, Australians, New Zealanders and Americans - became world champions.

The golden age of Formula 1 was in the early 1980s. The appearance of top teams - Ferrari, McLaren, Lotus and Williams, famous pilots A. Senna, A. Prost, G. Berger only fueled the interest of the fans. There have only been five female drivers in the history of Formula 1, although none of them achieved significant results. The first Russian driver in history to be on the Grand Prix podium was Vitaly Petrov.

A modern racing car is a carbon fiber monocoque with wheels located outside the body. The weight of the car together with the driver is at least seven hundred kilograms. The pilot himself is in a cramped cockpit, where there is a complex instrument panel, a sports steering wheel and pedals. Anti-lock braking system and power brakes are prohibited. The displacement of the engine and the number of cylinders in the engine are consistent with the technical regulations, which are updated almost every year, but Formula is not a race of engines or even the fastest auto racing series.

During the race, points are gained not only by the driver, but also by the rest of the team, because the fight is not only for the world champion title, but also for the Constructors' Championship. In addition, there are also unofficial prizes and titles: “Best Track”, “Best Rider”, “Best Newcomer”, “Riders’ Choice”.

In addition to roll bars, today riders are protected by special overalls that can withstand open flames for 14 seconds, as well as gloves made of non-flammable materials. Of course, every pilot has a helmet, and the design of the car allows you to leave the cockpit within a few seconds. However, to do this you need to unfasten the seat belts and remove the steering wheel.

In recent years, Formula 1 regulations have changed every now and then, in particular, the requirements for engines are constantly becoming more stringent. And all so that, for safety reasons, the speed is lower and there are more overtakings during the race. Formula 1, in addition to the most prestigious event, is also a show for spectators who need to be given bread and circuses.

Today Formula 1 is called the “queen of motor sports”, and this is understandable - it is one of the most prestigious, spectacular and expensive racing series in the world. The salaries of pilots and the budget of teams amount to millions of dollars a year. Many pilots competing in other classes dream of getting into Formula 1; for some, this becomes a lifelong goal.